The Russian oligarchy is of no consequence these days, he has spent 25 years consolidating power. A popular uprising is the only chance of Putin not dying on the throne and that doesn't appear to be happening.
The protests now are a fraction of what they were last year for Navalny. In retrospect that was probably his dry run. Weeks into this the majority of the Russian population either supports this "special operation" or is too scared to say anything. Same difference, this is the new normal for them just like the good old days.
"The Russian oligarchy is of no consequence these days, he has spent 25 years consolidating power."
Hm, in my perspection he consolidated his power with the oligarchy.
And a popular uprising I do not see coming in the near future, but once all those disillusioned soldiers come home and share their stories of the real war, while they discover how screwed up everything has become at home - then things might change.
The oligarchy wasn't that important anymore, Putin silenced those oligarchs that opposed him and made the others allies. Now those ultra-rich and very powerful allies are loosing that power and money due to that alliance and Putin's actions.
The big question is, what are the other powers to be thinking, the armed forces and the intelligence community? And what's gonna happen of one of those groups decides that Putin is more of a hindrance than a benefit? Or even a risk to their interests?
The protests now are a fraction of what they were last year for Navalny. In retrospect that was probably his dry run. Weeks into this the majority of the Russian population either supports this "special operation" or is too scared to say anything. Same difference, this is the new normal for them just like the good old days.