Putin's Warlord Base Blasted In Strike - Jason Jay Smart

Putin’s Chechen warlord system is under new strain after Kadyrov’s forces reportedly suffered a major blow tied to betrayal inside Russia’s own security network.

For years, Putin relied on Chechen loyalty, fear, and violence to help hold part of his war machine together. Ramzan Kadyrov is sick, his son Adam lacks real authority, and Moscow has no clean successor who can command the same network. A serious fracture in Chechnya would create a loyalty problem inside one of the forces Putin trusted most.

Ukraine’s campaign is also hitting the financial machinery behind the war. In April, Ukraine struck Russian oil infrastructure at least 21 times, hit nine refineries, and took five offline. Ukrainian drones are now reaching up to 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) into Russian territory, while Russian military bloggers warn that many major cities lack serious air-defense coverage.

Putin now faces problems in places his system was supposed to control: Chechen loyalty, Russian oil revenue, regional security, elite confidence, and air defense coverage across Russia.

Chechnya, Kadyrov, Russian refineries, Ukraine’s drone campaign, and Kremlin instability are becoming one larger warning about Putin’s war inside Russia.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro: Putin’s Collapsing Kremlin Regime
01:26 - Burning Refineries: Ukraine Shuts Down Russian Oil
03:27 - Chechen Betrayal: Kadyrov’s Power Struggle With Putin
05:07 - Elite Purge: How Putin Cleanses the Kremlin
07:16 - Phantom Soldiers: Medvedev’s Desperate Recruitment Lies
08:18 - Deadly Alliance: Russia and Iran’s Secret Deal
10:01 - Global Assault: The Kremlin’s War Against the West