The Enemies Within: Russia’s Hidden Problem

When you go conquering lands resentment never quite disappears

Russia is a little complicated. It is a dictatorship that likes to call itself a federation and acts like an empire. But it has a whole lots of other neuroses and disabilities. One is recognising borders. This is a permanent legacy of it’s expansionist history.

Under Putin, Russia has ventured into South Ossetia, Abkhasia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Belarus and of course Ukraine (as well as further afield, notably in Africa and Syria, but that is a separate category).

Inside the imperium

Inside Russia, in many ways the situation is similar. Before Putin came to power, presidents, governess of chieftains of different republics and oblasts in Russia were locally elected: now he personally appoints them, in a mockery of anything logical and sensible, and in a demonstration of paranoia and dictatorship. He also does not allow anything not directly controllable by the Kremlin: in Yakutia the native nature-worshipping religion was making a come-back these past years, building temples devoted to nature generally, and totemic world trees. Putin has had them long-destroyed. In the small republic of Mari El the Russian state has been heavy-handed; smashing up Mari language newspaper presses, having Mari journalists beaten up as well as making life difficult for any Mari Republic cultural organisations to function.

Why Mari El?

The key word is “small.” When the Kremlin thinks something is easy to do, it does it. This is a more important criteria than merely right or wrong. The cultural state of all things Tatar, the largest minority in Russia, is much more developed than in Mari El, but having a fight with the Tatars is a potential risk for Moscow. The Mari are an ethnic group related to Hungarians, who are pagan by tradition.

Would Russia fragment without a strong Kremlin? Well, it depends, doesn’t it? If the Kremlin could ever persuade itself to act wisely and benignly, very probably not. However, that is anathema to a country that believes only in power and vodka, and the vodka is drunk to feel power.

There are many different ethnic groups within this Russian empire, or to be precise, imperium. Three republics stand out as stronger than others, all Turkic ethnic groups in though only two of them Muslim: Tartan, Bashkortostan and The Sakha Republic (Yakutia).

All 3 have developped diplomatic representation abroad. For example, Tatarstan has representative offices is:

🌀 Paris, France.

🌀 Dubai, UAE

🌀 Astana, Kazakhstan

🌀 Tashkent, Uzbekistan

🌀Beijing, China

🌀 Leipzig, Germany

🌀 Tokyo, Japan

🌀 Washington D.C., USA

🌀 Havana, Cuba

🌀 Istanbul, Türqiye

Bashkortostan has not been able to have separate offices, and has a representative working from the Russian embassy. Russia is very keen to keep Bashkirs on a tighter leash, and is able to, whereas the almost mythical status of Tatars has allowed them slightly more freedom:

🌀Belarus

🌀Uzbekistan

🌀Türkiye

🌀China

🌀Kazakhstan

🌀United Arab Emirates

🌀Austria

🌀India (possibly)

Yakutia has been looking eastward, and strives to build strong connections with South Korea, Japan and China, notably in connection with the diamond industry, rare earth metals, business, and tourism

The Caucasus

The area in the south, on the borders of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan is where the least Russians live; probably for financial reasons — there’s not much money around (legally not anyway, & not including Chechen oil money) and mountains don’t make natural agricultural lands. In addition the area is overwhelmingly Muslim, and ethnic Russians are not.

It is an area of turbulent history, of wild cultural tradition — blood feuds; honour above all; refusal to surrender etc, incredible hospitality and all-round passion.

When Stalin got involved

Stalin immediately split up the Turkic and Circassian people into barrel-named republics upon taking power, the 10% of Circassians left after 90% were either butchered by Russians or exiled over 100 years, as well as having Azerbaijan rule over Nagorno-Karabach, a predominantly Armenian populated area, breaking Nakchivan apart from Azerbaijan, and having Adygea surrounded by an oblast.

Chechens

The most developed exile structure is the Government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, and claims to be the continuation of the Chechen state that existed de facto in the 1990s, and maintains foreign representatives and a foreign affairs structure in exile. There are 3 Chechen battalions with the Ukrainian army, and Chechens are also found in the Caucasus Legion and other units. Chechen independence runs deep.

The Chechen-Ingush ASSR

The two peoples, Chechens and Ingushetians are related by DNA and similar language, but this republic split up in 1992; the Ingushetians briefly going to watch against the Ossetians while Chechnya went to war against Russia.

Circassian movement (Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia)

Several diaspora organisations advocate for Circassian national interests internationally. Among the more political groups is the International Circassian Council, which advocates for Circassian rights and, in some cases, independence or greater self-determination. Circassia was wiped from the map by a total ethnic cleansing lasting a century by the masters of the ‘craft,’ Russia. The words Adygea, Kabardino and Cherkessia and Circassian references.

There are also cultural and repatriation organisations, such as the Circassian Repatriation Organization, which focus on diaspora issues rather than claiming governmental authority.

North Ossetia–Alania (Republic of…)

A strange name, considering Ossetians originate from Alanians — so did the names “Asia” and “Aryan.” Ossetian itself is related to Persian, the language of Iran, but Ossetians are not Muslim. In fact the Republic is home to a completely different religion, Asianism.

One symbol of Asianism, a binding of deity, matter and emotion

Assianism, sometimes called Uatsdin, is an ethnic and folk religion derived from traditional narratives of Ossetians, descendants of the Alans of Scythian tribes, and a direct continuation of the ancient Scythian religion. Reorganised in a conscious way during the 1980s. Asianism fundamentally disagrees with Christianity’s separation of God and nature as two different entities, for a start. With Putin peering from the Kremlin, Ossetians like to say Asianism is a “philosophy,” or “traditional rituals.”

Dagestan

Dagestanis are a mixed ethnic group, mostly of all of the above. If given the option, they would leave Russia at a pinch. That I can say from personal discussion in Azerbaijan next door. There is no widely recognised Dagestani government-in-exile. However, activist and diaspora groups such as the All-Ukrainian Congress of the Dagestani People have participated in broader North Caucasus exile initiatives.

Ingushetia

Ingush activists participate in exile networks and North Caucasus coordination bodies. A problem is the sworn enemies of the Ingush are the Ossetians next door. The Russian decision to annex South Ossetia from Georgian territory may have had a secondary reason of making Ossetia generally a larger republic bus à vis Ingushetia.

Ingushetians have one claim to fame, which is longevity, a hallmark of the troubled, poor mountainous region, with nevertheless stunning nature, clean environment, very strong family ties and traditions, and excellent, fresh food.

It is clear all play a part, starting with the mountains themselves.

Pan–North Caucasus organidations

The Congress of the Peoples of the North Caucasus seeks to coordinate various North Caucasian independence and self-determination movements, including representatives associated with Chechen, Circassian, Ingush, and Dagestani causes. It presents itself as a successor to historical pan-Caucasian political traditions. The Caucasus region has tried on a number of occasions to form their own republic together, once as a “Mountain-Dwelling Republic.”

Armenia

If Turkic people — related in general to the Turks, make up 9% of the Russian population, Armenians make up less than 1%. But Armenia is a country like Kazakhstan, Ukraine or Estonia, countries Russia demands act like Finland used to after WWII, when the country was an independent, democratic country, but had a foreign policy entirely controlled by Moscow. This is the model Russia expects from many of its neighbours, even more so for Moldova and Belarus. For the moment they have stepped back from Moldova — for the moment: it is why it’s paramount that Moldova join Romania, to become part of the larger NATO country.

Russia is currently blocking all Armenian fruit, wine, brandy plus other products from entry into the Russian Imperium, in an attempt to pull Armenia away from their pursued coordination with the EU. As always, such activity will work against them. But Russia will not stop there, and already the Armenian PM Pashinyan had already been reminded twice, by both Putin and Lukachenko, pseudo-president of Belarus of “what happened to Ukraine.”

How does all that reflect on the battlefield in 2026

Russia was somewhat able to do decide who got killed first among their troops in the first two years of the war (after the initial catastrophic invasion) — they could wipe out prisoners, Bashkirs, Tuvans, Dagestanis, Muslims before Russians. No more. Now anyone is a target, anywhere within 40 Kms of the kill zone. This is a problem for everyone, but it is a bigger problems for the Russian army.

In today’s drone warfare there is no real “rest period” or break from the front. Just pulling units back to recuperate is a risky move, as all movement on roads is spotted immediately, and troops are spotted everywhere when they recuperate and restock with food, sleep, fresh clothes and ammunition. There is no safe place to recover anywhere, so the war is more dangerous now, both physically and mentally.

The partisans

When you realise that there are so many different Turkic groups within the Russian Imperium, it is not such a big surprise to know that one of the biggest Partisan groups, ATESH, were originally a Crimean Tatar group, who use a Turkic language to communicate as well as Russian and Ukrainian. Many of their agents are in the Russian army. You can imagine which ethnic groups quite a few of these operatives come from: many are from Turkic peoples of the Caucasus region, even if they are currently based in the occupied territories.

The current situation

The number of drones hitting refineries in Russia grows almost daily, and are causing real damage to the brutal war effort.

Ukrainian intelligence is doing remarkable work. As are the drone manufacturers and crews. Extraordinary is the word. But the work done by the partisans in Russia is a key to the ongoing success of the missions, in everything from target selection and precise information, to photographs for evidence and damage checking.

As said regarding ATESH, many of the partisans, embedded within the Russian army, come from republics highlighted, but there are Russians too, not just vodka-chugging failures who think they can pick up a bit of cash. On the contrary, the work demands real organisation and guts, equaling a rare professionalism.

The details

Ukraine’s drone forces say they have eliminated more than 100,000 Russian troops and struck 350,000 military targets in just one year.

According to Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert Brovdi, the losses are nearly three times the number of troops Russia deployed in its failed attempt to capture Kyiv in 2022, according to the The Kyiv Post.

Putin once again talks utter, total rubbish when commenting on the Oreshnik missile strike a few days ago on mostly unused garages in Bila Tserks, saying the Russians struck a ‘shed’ with an Oreshnik so they could conveniently observe the results. Schoolboy ego, schoolboy lies — next, he said, they would strike urban areas as well. The usual stuff from the backside of a bull.

Putin mumbled something about saying “thank god it’s all over,” the day he meets Zelenskiy, which could be today. Right now. Cheap charlatan stuff from the Russian FSB man.

Peace talks

Zelenskiy has published an open letter to Putin, proposing direct talks between Ukraine and Russia to end the war and offering a personal meeting.

Key points

▪️ a personal meeting with Putin.

▪️ Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire during talks.

▪️ Kyiv supports an “all-for-all” prisoner exchange.

▪️ Ukraine seeks the return of civilians and children taken during the war.

▪️ The US and Europe could join as future security guarantors.

▪️ “The front line is now the line from which diplomacy must begin.”

Putin said a ceasefire is not necessary before negotiations can begin, signaling that Moscow sees no need to halt hostilities as a precondition for talks with Ukraine. His Kremlin lackeys regurgitated the “if Zelenskiy wants to meet,he can come to Moscow,” line.

Should Zelenskiy go to Moscow to meet with Putin?

☐ Yes

☐ No

☐ Maybe

☐ Ridiculous

The Ukrainian military know Russia can launch up to 100 ballistic missiles at Ukraine every month without significantly reducing its stockpiles, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.

Moscow’s ongoing missile production is allowing it to sustain large-scale attacks, underscoring the urgent need for additional air defense systems that disgracefully the U.S. refuses to sell, with ballistic missiles remain among the most dangerous threats facing Ukraine.

Crocodile tears

The pathetic little show by Putin did not impress the Ukrainian president:

“Enough of the war,” Zelenskiy said, according to the Kyiv Independent: “Almost half of your 26 years of power in Russia you have spent in the war against Ukraine. Whatever you say about NATO, geopolitics and the Russian language, this war is your personal choice — a war without a real reason. This is how history will remember it.”

Meanwhile Ukraine has just destroyed Russia’s drone base at occupied Donetsk airport. Superb.

"A decision was made to carry out systematic preemptive strikes that will disrupt enemy launches and reduce the number of enemy drones that will once again fly to attack kindergartens, high-rise buildings, and hospitals, stated President Zelenskiy.

And Trump?

He says he thinks a meeting would be ‘great.’ Just as long as the tweedledum & tweedledee of diplomacy, Kuchner and Witkoff never actually show their faces in Kyiv, everyone will be better off.

None of this president’s circle have made it. Of course cowardice is part of the mix, and may well be the least unpleasant reason.

If Trump was only half way decent, he would never say “both sides need to make compromises.”

What compromise would Trump be asking of Russia? To not take Kyiv? They cannot.

Why on earth would Ukrainian forces move back from the best and most importantly defended part of Ukraine, in Donetsk?

Why would Ukraine force tens of thousands to live under Russian rule — with all the arrests, torture and being sent to Siberia that doing so will entail?

Why can Trump not tell Putin he needs to stop the war now and go home, and accept the stalemate as a maximum?

Why can Trump not tell the Russians to stop their “as we agreed in Alaska” nonsense?

How can Republicans continue to express surprise when they now learn, in 2026 that Ukraine is a democracy, with full religious rights, fighting for their survival, yet continue to block support?

How can the U.S. have come to this?

And Mark Rutte, in Kyiv?

Rutte said, “Ukraine is so successful right now that Putin can only host a May 9th parade if President Zelenskiy issues an official decree allowing it.”

Really poor show from Rutte. Really, really poor show. Ukraine is suffering massive, catastrophic bomb raids, with allies not sending or selling patriot defence systems they are sitting on. Rutte’s “joke” is an old trope that has been circling on social media a while already.

If it was not such a waste of time it would be merely embarrassing. Rutte is better than Pinochio before him, but…well, you know what I mean, this jokey sort of stuff from Western politicians is not the right tone.

Ukraine does not want to hear more Westerners admiring their bravery. There is a very dark side to it: “oh those plucky Ukrainians, eh!”

Ukraine does not want to hear more Westerners praising Zelenskiy. Ukraine is a democracy, not a one-man popularity show.

Russia’s chemical cocktails continue

Medias

Russian forces have once again used banned phosphorus munitions against Kostiantynivka in an attempt to burn Ukrainian defenders out of the city.

Narcissism

Collective narcissism is a concept in Social Psychology describes when a nation holds an inflated belief in its own importance and superiority, combined with a strong need for external recognition and validation due to their insecure pride.

Accordingly even mild critique is seen as an attack, with an us vs. them thinking and strong division between the country and outsiders.

Moscow’s pride is defensive, exaggerated, and dependent on recognition, and full of religious and cultural identity conflict due to its insecurity.

Whaddabout da Orb?

Why has Orbàn been repeatedly seen exiting the Russian embassy in Budapest so often? He has not been indicted yet, but things are not looking good, especially his ordered illegal kidnapping, physical violence and looting of the Ukrainian team transferring gold and funds from Austria to Ukraine through Hungary — and snitched on by the Hungarian company employed to do this.

So where will Orbàn run to?

Forget applauding him for leaving quietly. He did not. The Russian FSB had suggest bumping Peter Magyar off and were in Hungary to do it. Orbàn did not bottle it, he just thought he could mount an insurrection, January 6th style, and even said he was going around the country to talk with “the people”…after losing the elections.

He then ran off to the U.S. a while. He needs to prepare his options. Staying in Hungary may not be one of them, but he may be able to strike a deal with the new government if he behaves himself — something he has not shown an ability to do very often.

My words to a young Ukrainian friend, on their decision to volunteer

I will tell you something. In the French Foreign Legion when they look at new recruits over the first few weeks, even months, the first they kick out are show-offs.

Those who are not so fit are not a problem, because if they work hard, they will become more fit.

But later they start to kick out the ones who pretend they are heroes, and have no fear. They are dangerous, and stupid.

The ones with a lot of fear are best because they know how to survive. And they are willing to be trained, to learn. Your fear is what helps you.

From Azov recruitment

At the same time I would never say yes, go to Azov to you, if I thought you were going to the front lines unprepared. Absolutely never. That would not be right.

From everything I know you would not be in that position.

Your fear is an asset, it will help you choose wisely. Personally, I have great confidence in you about that.

I do not like people who project their fear on others, or even "opinions"...(opinions are so cheap, facts are better). It means they have no confidence in the person they are talking to.

Teamwork is everything. The guys will be on your side. They are not going to make fun of you for being a “young girl.”

On her being told by ‘some civilians’ the war is deliberately being fought to enrich oligarchs…

This conspiracy theorist viewpoint that the civilians have is what you said, cowardice, also laziness (not searching for more information) and deliberate ignorance—disguised as a "point of view" of course.

The facts show other things.

One of my main worries about proponents of this view (there are plenty outside Ukraine also) is how they always try to claim the moral high ground with it.

How?

With words like "stupid" to describe volunteers. That is why one must never be neutral about this, because the point of view they are giving is completely unacceptable philosophically: "you are stupid because you want to defend your home" is their point, but it follows with a worse point: "let someone else do it." The logic has therefore left the room.

We have seen, as fact, what the Russians did to the Russian-speaking people of Mariupol, Irpin, Bucha, many other places. If everyone stayed home and let the Russians come do they really think they could just talk to them?

Once again, I am surprised how little people value democracy, with all its imperfections, because it is a war of democracy against totalitarianism.

The time for a government to guide our lives is over, but a great problem about freedom is that it is not free.

So no, they are not entitled to their viewpoint because it is an offensive one. It is very "easy" to say "ignore the war." The problem is war has a tendency of not ignoring them.

Along with the people you know talking about oligarchs becoming richer, and corruption, there are those outside Ukraine who claim the war "raises our taxes" and "makes petrol cost more."

Many things raised taxes. Having Russia on the border causing great disturbance will cause a lot of trouble for the European economy. Raising taxes is the cheaper option, whether they like it or not.

There is also the argument of valuing Ukrainian life or a tax of 1% less. Obviously some prefer the option of paying less tax than trying to ensure less Ukrainians are killed.

But a higher petrol price is caused by only one thing: not enough help and support for Ukraine. if the support was much more, and stopped the Russian aggression, then the petrol price would come down.

These people are not able to see the connection. But there is an element of lack of brain cells in this.

Because they are stressing opinions that cannot be backed up, they often use emotion, and even raise their voice.

They make basic points, like "they should stop fighting" or "if we stop sending weapons the war will stop," points that sound rational but are in fact irrational.

People seem to have a problem with defining what is right and what is wrong sometimes.

Others think if they bury their head in the sand things will go away.

For those who think Russians would treat them alright if they came, facts are not on their side. The incidents of rape, especially in the first long months of 2022 are horrendous.

Far better if they were honest in their point of view, and just say they are too scared to think in any other way.

You are one of the bravest people I know.