Putin Fears He Will Be 'Hanged' If Russia Fails To Capture Donbas Before Ukraine War Ends: Report

Russian President Vladimir Putin fears he could face a dangerous backlash if the Ukraine war ends without Russia securing control of the Donbas, according to a report by The Economist.

The report claimed that Putin has privately expressed concern about what could happen if he fails to achieve what Moscow considers a key objective of the war. A Kremlin insider recalled Putin saying, “they will hang me”, while discussing the consequences of ending the conflict without capturing all of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.

The claim has not been publicly confirmed by the Kremlin. It is based on reporting by The Economist and comments attributed to people familiar with the mood inside Russia’s political elite.

Report Points To Growing Elite Frustration

According to The Economist, the concern inside

the Kremlin is not only about Russia’s economy or its military performance, but also about the time lost to the war.

The report quoted a member of the Russian elite as saying, “There is a growing feeling that the tsar is naked.” It suggested that some influential figures increasingly view the nearly five-year conflict as a failure, regardless of its eventual outcome.

The report also said Russia’s political system can tolerate heavy losses and violence but is far less forgiving of failure. Against that backdrop, Putin allegedly believes that ending the war without achieving at least his minimum objective in Donbas could leave him personally vulnerable.

Donbas, comprising mainly the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, has been a central Russian objective since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The region also contains heavily fortified defensive positions, making it strategically important to both sides.

The report comes amid continued Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian energy and other infrastructure, adding pressure to Moscow’s war effort.

India Calls For End To War

The latest claims also come as international pressure for a settlement continues. During a meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russia to move towards ending the conflict.

“Every day spent on war pushes humanity backwards, whereas every step taken towards peace fills humanity with new hope and enthusiasm,” Modi said.

He added that India supports efforts towards peace and called for a move “from endless war towards the end of war”, saying a peaceful resolution was the need of humanity.

Putin responded that Russia was moving towards resolving the conflict, while Moscow has continued its military operations in Ukraine.

The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected suggestions that Putin’s position has weakened. It has also not publicly responded to The Economist report about his alleged private remarks.