Photo : Adaria Gushtyn
On 5 October, the Lithuanian capital Vilnius hosted the thirteenth Free Russia Forum, where Russian experts and opposition politicians discussed new challenges related to the war in Ukraine. One of the key topics was how the new mobile operations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces could change the course of the conflict, particularly in Russia and Belarus, DW reports.
Political analyst Dmitriy Oreshkin noted that despite the high support for Vladimir Putin among Russians, there is growing dissatisfaction in society with events such as the defeat in Kherson. “It is important to convey to people how dangerous Putin is and how he deceives his people,” he stressed, calling for the development of a new strategy to influence Russian society.
Economist Vladislav Inozemtsev noted that the Russian economy has adapted to the war, with GDP and real incomes growing. However, he warned that the economy is still suffering from sanctions, which have not achieved the desired effect. “The West is suffering more losses from sanctions than Russia,” the expert said.
The forum participants also discussed the possibility of expanding military operations beyond Ukraine’s borders. Ukrainian MP Oleh Dunda stressed the importance of moving the war to the territory of Belarus, believing that this could significantly weaken the Kremlin. He pointed to the possibility that the Belarusian army could lay down its arms if Ukrainian units carried out limited attacks.
The PACE Rapporteur General on Russian Democratic Forces, Erik-Nyles Kros, supported this idea, arguing that Western countries are wrong to draw “red lines” that are in fact Putin’s lines. “It is necessary to provide Ukraine with real military assistance without delay,” he stressed.
The forum stressed the importance of international support for Ukraine and the active work of the Russian opposition, which is trying to convey the truth to its own people in the face of war. The discussions at the event pointed to the need for new strategies to combat authoritarianism, which could be the key to change not only in Ukraine but also in Russia itself.
