Putin Rarely Leaves Moscow. So Why Did He Tour Siberia?

Russia’s war against Ukraine continues on multiple fronts—but today I want to focus on something unusual inside Russia itself. Vladimir Putin recently completed a rare tour through Siberia and the Russian Far East, including regions that have suffered disproportionately high economic and human costs from the war. Analysts argue that the trip was partly about security, partly about Russia’s upcoming State Duma elections, and partly about maintaining political loyalty in regions where discontent could become a problem. I also cover Russia’s latest attack on Kyiv, the continuing debate over Ukrainian wartime elections and Mykhailo Fedorov, Russian threats against Britain, European divisions over Ukraine, the expanding drone war, and your responses to my discussion of corruption in Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. Facts over noise. Context over headlines. Truth over talking points. Principle over partisanship. Chapters 0:00 Why Was Putin Touring Siberia? 0:22 Russia’s Massive Attack on Kyiv 1:05 Ukraine’s New Corruption Investigations 2:18 Can Ukraine Hold Elections During the War? 3:00 Fedorov’s Election Push 4:20 What Happens After Fedorov? 6:03 Are Ukrainian Elections Actually Possible? 7:46 Europe Responds to Ukraine’s Election Debate 8:23 Europe’s Migration and Political Pressure 9:45 Russian Information Warfare in Poland 10:14 Why Europe Still Struggles to Fund Ukraine 11:08 Britain Says Ukraine Was Fighting With One Hand Tied 11:51 Lavrov Threatens Britain 13:19 Why Putin Toured Siberia 14:51 Putin Visits Russia’s Protest-Prone Regions 15:36 Russia Sends Ancient Relics to the Front 16:31 Romania Shoots Down a Russian Naval Drone 17:19 Russia Says Ukraine Is Losing Billions at Its Ports 18:17 Bill Browder: How the War Could Actually End 19:59 American Rappers Head to Russia 21:20 Tucker Carlson Appears on RT 21:45 Trump, Switzerland, and Tariffs 22:26 Your Pushback on My Corruption Analysis 25:26 What the Corruption Index Actually Measures 26:54 Why What We See Can Distort What We Believe 27:34 Ukraine Support Bridge Update Fundraisers video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMTs6amkGUg and Here is the direct link to the Ukraine Support Bridge: https://ukrainesupportbridge.com/ - Ukrainian Refugee M's Room and Board is covered for this year. It is not for the rest of her time at CSU. I will be pushing on the other fundraisers for now, but if you still wish to give to make that whole (Aprox 48K total), here is the direct link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-ms-journey-at-charleston-southern-university?attribution_id=sl:2708fb35-6c96-49b9-a5f9-6b7567483de6&lang=en_US&ts=1786462653&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp30-treatment-3&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link ***** To support me as as I provide Ukraine war context: ***** Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ProfessorGerdesExplains Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/professorgerdes Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/professorgerdes YouTube Channel Membership: https://www.youtube.com/@Professor-Gerdes/membership 🇺🇸 Contact the White House to express your support for Ukraine https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ *****IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE DIRECT AID TO UKRAINE: ***** 🇺🇦 I have partnered with Greg Terry for all donations to Ukraine. He has raised and delivered more than a quarter of a million dollars of aid to date. To directly support this effort of delivering necessary provisions to the front lines, click on these links (and then watch him give your donations to soldiers on the front lines on his channel): https://www.youtube.com/@GregTerryExperience Amazon Shopping List USA/North America (Shop and send to UKRAINE AID c/o Bethel Life's Gift Registry Address) https://a.co/iodWsUK Amazon Shopping List for EU/UK https://www.amazon.de/hz/wishlist/ls/... Direct Link for Financial Giving via our 501(c)(3) Tax-Deductible in the USA https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html Link for Greg's 501(c)(3) EIN Information https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html 🇺🇸 Alternatively, you may choose to donate to Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/ukraine-response/?utm_source=FY22UkraineResponseVanityURL&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=m_YUKR-22L3&utm_content=Ukraine-Response-Redirect%20%20 🇺🇦 If you wish to support the Ukrainian Army, give directly to United 24. Follow this link: https://u24.gov.ua/ ***BUY SOMETHING TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE *** 🇺🇦 I wrote a book about Ukraine's president Zelenskyy which I have updated for the first 4-5 months of the war in Ukraine: It is free if you have Amazon Kindle Unlimited or $9.99 otherwise: https://amzn.to/3Q2wnyE 🇺🇦 If you cannot give or buy, you can like, share, and pray for the people of Ukraine. 🇺🇸 Please leave comments and tell me how I can help you gain more perspective. You can contact me @Dr_Gerdes on Twitter or email [email protected] #UKRAINE #UKRAINERUSSIAWAR #UKRAINEWAR