Never Tired of Fighting
Russia’s involvement in the Syrian conflict increased dramatically following a terrorist attack that killed more than two hundred Russians on an airplane. However, the increased stakes make the Russian government more dependent on the outcome of the conflict rather than increasing the probability of its completion.
The downing of a Russian Su-24 bomber by a Turkish jet fighter on allegations of illegal intrusion into the Turkish airspace opened a Pandora’s box of emotional reactions by the Russian leadership. President Putin ordered a change in the setup of the operation so that the Russian military is prepared to open fire against Turkish forces and cut major cooperation projects with Turkey, turning a former close partner almost into an enemy state.
The sabotage of the power lines to Crimea in Ukraine demonstrated the weakness of the regional infrastructure and the imminent problems Russia will have to solve to prove its capacity to govern the region. Otherwise, its economic sustainability may be dramatically compromised.
The general public is convinced that the Russian police uses illegal methods in its work. Almost three quarters of Russians think this happens at least from time to time, and this share has not changed dramatically in the past 25 years, despite several reforms having taken place.
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