A report by the Institute for the Study of War said Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin are worried that an end to the war in Ukraine could help plunge Russia into chaos
Putin's reluctance to demobilize troops in Ukraine may lead to his downfall and a rapid end to the war, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The Kremlin fears that returning troops could destabilize Russia, similar to the chaos after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. To mitigate this, Russia has created new veteran organizations to replace critical groups and has cracked down on dissent, imposing severe penalties for anti-war speech. Signs of unrest among veterans, including violent crimes, suggest demobilization could be a significant issue as peace talks continue.
