Vladimir Putin is said to be gearing up to dump the political party he currently heads, United Russia and run as an independent candidate in the upcoming Russian presidential election.
This move has been interpreted by Russa analysts as an attempt by the 71-year-old to enhance his wartime leadership image.
As reported by the Russian newspaper Kommersant, Putin is looking to run a “conservative” campaign focused on “pride, confidence, and the future.”
Putin has previously run as an independent candidate, doing so in the 2018 presidential election.
Dr Stephen Hall from Bath University told the Telegraph that United Russia’s growing unpopularity with voters may also be driving Putin’s decision.
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The associate professor of Russian politics said: “A difficult election should not be made harder with the United Russia millstone”. It comes as the Kremlin continues to lose face over losses in Ukraine.
On Tuesday (October 14) Ukraine declared two Russian navy landing boats have been taken out in Crimea using kamikaze drones.
A Ukrainian report of the attack said: “The results of intelligence conducted on 10 November 2023 near Vuzka Bay in temporarily occupied Crimea show that after an attack by naval drones, two small Russian landing ships have been destroyed,
“As a consequence of the attack, both vessels went to the bottom, the Akula straight away and the Serna after attempts to save it.”
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According to Ukrainian military officials, the vessels were loaded with armoured vehicles at the time.
The boats were identified as one Akula class vessel and a Serna class ship
A Ukrainian report of the attack said: “The results of intelligence conducted on 10 November 2023 near Vuzka Bay in temporarily occupied Crimea show that after an attack by naval drones, two small Russian landing ships have been destroyed,
“As a consequence of the attack, both vessels went to the bottom, the Akula straight away and the Serna after attempts to save it.”
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