Putin Has Lost Control of the Narrative
Russian President Vladimir Putin's control over the narrative surrounding the war in Ukraine is deteriorating. Recent events, including a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade and Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow, have shattered the illusion that the conflict does not affect the capital. As the reality of the war becomes increasingly apparent, the government's attempts to insulate Moscow from its consequences are failing.
- ▪Putin has tried to shield Moscow from the consequences of the war for over four years.
- ▪The recent Victory Day parade was notably short and lacked military hardware due to fears of Ukrainian attacks.
- ▪Ukrainian drone strikes have demonstrated that Moscow's air defenses are compromised.
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IdeasPutin Has Lost Control of the NarrativeHe can no longer insulate Moscow from the catastrophe he has created.By Phillips Payson O’BrienPavel Bednyakov / AFP / GettyMay 23, 2026, 8:45 AM ET ShareSave Regimes that go to war usually work hard to convince their population that the decision to fight was justified and that any sacrifices will be manageable. In this spirit, Russian President Vladimir Putin has tried for more than four years to protect the population of Moscow from the consequences of his invasion of Ukraine. Festivals and other events have gone on much as they did before, and the effects of supply shortages in the capital have been limited.
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