Russia: While the War in Ukraine Rages, Another War Plays Out in the Kremlin

The rivalry between Defense Minister Andrei Bieloussov and political strategist Sergei Kirienko highlights tensions within Russian power ahead of the September 2026 legislative elections. Bieloussov, who proposed a list of veteran candidates for the State Duma, challenges Kirienko's authority, who is responsible for compiling the lists. This struggle for control over seats has revealed fractures within Vladimir Putin's inner circle, while the number of arrests of officials has significantly increased since the start of the war in Ukraine.