Vladimir Putin has decided to escalate Russia’s war against Ukraine because he fears a backlash at home if the conflict ends without a victory he can present to the Russian public, sources close to the Kremlin have claimed.
The reported assessment suggests the Russian president believes stopping short of his war aims could leave him exposed to anger from nationalist figures and ordinary Russians after years of fighting and mounting losses.
The Economist, citing people familiar with the Kremlin’s thinking, reported that Mr Putin regards control of the whole of Donbas as the minimum outcome he could accept. One source said he had told people around him during the war: “They will hang me.” ([meduza.io](https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/08/31/the-economist-putin-fears-ending-the-war-without-victory-they-will-hang-me-he-reportedly-told-his-inner-circle?utm_source=openai))
The remark has not been independently verified, and the circumstances in which it was allegedly made remain unclear. But it underlines the personal and political stakes surrounding any attempt to end the war without a clear Russian gain.
According to the report, dissatisfaction is growing among sections of the Russian public, while the mood among elements of the country’s political and security elite is said to be increasingly pessimistic. The central concern is not only the lack of a decisive battlefield breakthrough, but the time and resources consumed by the conflict.
One source described the continuation of the war at its current pace as damaging to the Kremlin because it is consuming economic resources and political capital without producing a result that could be sold as success.
That calculation is believed to have encouraged the Kremlin to consider a more aggressive course rather than accept a prolonged stalemate. Possible measures include intensified attacks on Ukraine and a wider campaign of sabotage and hybrid operations aimed at Kyiv’s allies, according to reporting on the assessment. ([meduza.io](https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/08/31/the-economist-putin-fears-ending-the-war-without-victory-they-will-hang-me-he-reportedly-told-his-inner-circle?utm_source=openai))
Russia’s Defence Ministry has also indicated that preparations are under way for further large-scale strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, adding to concern that Moscow may seek to increase pressure before the winter.
Western officials have said a direct military confrontation between Russia and Nato is not considered the most likely outcome, but have warned that attacks on European facilities supporting Ukraine could increase the risk of miscalculation.
The claims come as negotiations over the war remain stalled and as Ukraine continues to reject Russian demands for territorial concessions. Any escalation would risk deepening the conflict, while leaving Mr Putin with even fewer options for ending it without facing questions over the cost and outcome of the invasion.
