Putin's grip weakens: Inner circle plots succession plan

• Russian investigative journalists claim that Vladimir Putin is losing control over events in Russia, and his entourage is preparing a "successor" operation.
• Putin, who has ruled Russia for over 25 years, is struggling with health problems and is increasingly isolating himself from his surroundings.
• The Russian society is tired of the conflict in Ukraine, which could affect Putin's future and his policies.

Vladimir Putin, once omnipresent in Russian media, now governs from the shadows. He avoids meetings with ministers and officials, and an audience with him must be sought for months. His knowledge of the world is primarily based on information provided by advisors who carefully filter the data. "Meduza" journalists, quoted by "Newsweek" emphasize that Putin has been ruling for over a quarter of a century. He realizes that he is no longer young. He is troubled by illnesses, as they report.

Russian society is increasingly aware of Putin's frailty. His former associates, like Nikolai Patrushev and Dmitry Peskov, are beginning to consider a future without him. Today, this hierarchical system is shaky at its core. The younger ones are increasingly eager for advancement, note "Meduza" journalists. The power structure that Putin built is beginning to crumble, and the younger generation of politicians is increasingly hungry for power.

As reported in "Newsweek," the conflict in Ukraine has exhausted Russian society, which has significantly impoverished over the last three years. If Moscow does not withdraw its troops from the Dnieper, Putin may face a situation similar to Leonid Brezhnev, whose authority was undermined by the intervention in Afghanistan. Russian society is exhausted by the conflict in Ukraine, analysts emphasize. Putin's power, based on a hierarchical system, is becoming increasingly fragile.