It Starts When You're Always Afraid

Paranoia strikes deep*

May 12, 2026

Putin is dead. Putin is dying. Putin will be overthrown by Russian elites, or by the mob….any day now. The same rumors for years and years. Add a grain of salt to your daily Russian-news diet.

That said, there are more of these rumors than usual this spring, and some have appeared in legitimate media sources, along with facts that suggest Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is deeply worried about assassination and coups.

He apparently spent most of the last few months living in bunkers. This started around the time the US military snatched Venezuelan President Maduro, and assassinated the Iranian ayatollah and other Iranian government and military officials. It was also around the time Ukrainian drones and missiles started regularly reaching targets deep within Russia with greater accuracy and increasing frequency.

There are also reports of Russians openly complaining about conditions in Russia: rising prices, shortages, social media bans and even internet shutdowns. Similar to the west, internet connectivity is the backbone of Russia’s economy. Also mentioned in these complaints is the war. As the body count rises, more Russians are personally affected. It is no longer just the far provinces taking the brunt of the losses.

Don’t place any bets on Putin’s removal or demise. This could be nothing more than giddy wishful thinking. It’s spring and we all yearn for renewal and a satisfying end to Putin’s twelve-year-long winter.

*Paranoia strikes deep,
Into your life it will creep,
It starts when you’re always afraid,
You step out of line,
the man come and take you away.
Lyrics from Buffalo Springfield’s For What It’s Worth.