By Former U.S. Army Commander Lieutenant General Ben Hodges has suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power could be threatened by his own oligarch supporters if the war in Ukraine continues to drain their resources.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Hodges outlined how Western sanctions imposed on Russian oligarchs since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine might eventually lead to Putin’s downfall. These sanctions, which include travel bans and asset freezes, have significantly disrupted the international business dealings of Russia’s wealthy elite.
“At some point the oligarchs, the inner circle, have got to get tired of all the restrictions on them, including on their fortunes,” Hodges told The Sun. He added, “At some point, they will say ‘I can’t go see my mistress on the Adriatic. I can’t send my kids to school in London anymore or Stanford’. Then I think potentially something happens.”
Hodges emphasized the importance of isolating Russia diplomatically, economically, politically, and militarily from the rest of the world. He stated, “The defeat of Russia must be our strategic objective, that means we will do everything necessary to achieve it.”
The ex-general also suggested that Putin could be overthrown by his own citizens if public trust in his leadership begins to wane. Despite Putin’s recent electoral victory, securing 87% of the votes and extending his rule until at least 2030, Hodges believes that internal dissent could eventually emerge.
“The Russian people have to decide when they’ve had enough,” Hodges said. “You don’t really see protests on the street in Russia the way you did even in Minsk in Belarus or even in Iran’s capital Tehran. You don’t see that in Russia. And I think that at some point that will change. I don’t know when they finally crack.”
These comments come as Putin has recently signaled a willingness to negotiate, suggesting that China, India, and Brazil could act as mediators in potential peace talks. However, Putin has previously insisted on retaining occupied Ukrainian territory in any settlement.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to escalate. Recent Russian attacks on Lviv in western Ukraine resulted in civilian casualties, including the tragic loss of an entire family. These ongoing hostilities underscore the urgency of finding a resolution to the conflict, which has now lasted over two and a half years.
As the situation develops, the international community watches closely to see whether the financial pressure on Russian oligarchs and growing discontent among Russian citizens could indeed lead to significant changes in the Kremlin’s leadership and policies.
