The Ground Is Moving Under Putin's Regime - Jason Jay Smart
Putins regime is entering its most unstable phase in decades. New Ukrainian drone strikes have crippled key parts of Russias energy network and exposed the weakness of its war economy. Fires tore through Gazproms Orenburg gas plant, one of Russias largest, after a precision strike that halted gas intake from Kazakhstan. In Samara, explosions at the Novokuybyshevsk refinery disrupted production that fuels the Russian army. Satellite images confirm that 73 percent of Crimeas Feodosia oil terminal is destroyed, severing a major supply route to occupied territories.
The damage extends far beyond the battlefield. Power substations feeding Moscow and central industrial regions have been repeatedly hit, threatening cascading blackouts. The Kremlin is quietly raising taxes, slashing enlistment payments, and admitting shortfalls in regional budgets. Inflation is rising, housing starts are collapsing, and consumer spending is plunging.
Abroad, pressure mounts. The IMF cut Russias 2025 growth forecast to 0.6 percent. The coal industry has reported losses exceeding 225 billion rubles this year. EU and US sanctions are expanding, targeting energy and finance, while unrest spreads through the regions.
Ukraines precision strikes are dismantling the pillars of Putins system. The energy grid, the economy, and the illusion of control are all breaking at once.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:55 - Spy Tradecraft is Dead: The Rise of Telegram Sabotage
02:35 - Russian Army Collapse: Losses & Record Desertions
05:18 - The War at Home: Ukraine Strikes Cripple Russian Energy
06:38 - The Russian Economy Is Breaking: $8B Deficits & Tax Hikes
11:21 - Putin's Isolation: Why a Kremlin Power Play is Near
13:14 - Outro