Putin's Grip Slipping Amid Economic, War Woes

0:00On May 2nd, Putin's hold on Russia looks solid after 26 years, but cracks are showing as his approval rating dipped to 65.6%. Percent this month, it's lowest since the Ukraine war kicked off. That's a 12.2 percentage point drop since January. The economy's tanking with high inflation at 5.9% and interest rates at 14.5% while the war is stalled after. Four plus years, costing massive casualties. Ministers and insiders are speaking out like never before. Pro Kremlin star Victoria Bonia dropped an 18-minute video from near Monaco blasting hidden problems like floods, pollution, and business. Squeezes it, racked up 30 million views fast. Singer Ekaterina Gordon warned of women's revolt over closing shops and slashed education budgets and even the Communist Party head predicted A. 1917 style collapse without fixes. Russians are filling the pinch hard, with polls showing 67% wanting peace talks and confidence

1:03in the direction down to 41%. Military grabs are rising too. A retired colonel called out troops forced to clear minefields on foot, killing five elites. Families mourn one in 25 men aged 18-49 killed or wounded, over 430,000 total maybe. Ukraine's flipping the script, halting Russian advances and hitting oil terminals, slashing production by 400,000 barrels a day, Moscow's budget deficit hit $60 billion in three months, so Putin's begging oligarchs for cash. Internet blocks on telegram sparked outrage, even from governors needing it for air-rate alerts. Putin's system smothers real threats quick, letting some steam vent to test loyalties. Experts say he's vulnerable but secure for now, watching who, bites on the bait. He's since bubbling, but no big movement yet as the grind wears on.