Geo-Strategy #9: Putin's War for the Soul of Russia
Jiang Xue QinApr 16, 2026Russia is now reportedly producing 150,000 artillery shells monthly for the war in Ukraine, a stark contrast to the mere 2,000 produced by the United States. This extraordinary disparity in industrial output, following Vladimir Putin's call for Russia to prepare for 'total war,' hints at a strategic ambition far deeper than merely expanding territory or defending against NATO encroachment, which has seen France consider sending troops and Britain pondering conscription. With Ukraine's average soldier age exceeding 40 and Russia's population facing a dramatic decline, the question arises: is Putin's mobilization truly about external conflict, or is it a radical internal project to forge a new Russian soul amidst profound societal decay?
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