Russian Economy is Wrecked - Putin Demands Answers (Though he is the Cause)

2026-04-16 | UPDATES #174 | Putin's wrecked economy – the grandfather in the Kremlin and the elite who want him gone. Yesterday, in a Kremlin meeting room, Vladimir Putin looked across a table at his own ministers and Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina — and demanded that they explain to him, in plain Russian, why the economy he built, the war machine he fuelled, the "fortress" he promised, is cracking under his feet. Maybe he is not recognising the full extent of the problem – maybe he is not being told the full extent of the problem – but he is starting to acknowledge that there is a problem. The source of the problem is of course his disastrous war, his kleptocratic regime, global ambitions – but none of these will be admitted to. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------A REQUEST FOR HELP!I'm heading back to Kyiv next month, to film, do research and conduct interviews. The logistics and need for equipment and clothing are a little higher than for my previous trips. It will be cold, and may be dark also. If you can, please assist to ensure I can make this trip a success. My commitment to the audience of the channel, will be to bring back compelling interviews conducted in Ukraine, and to use the experience to improve the quality of the channel, it's insights and impact. Let Ukraine and democracy prevail! https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformationNONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!So what's next? We're going to Kyiv in April 2026 to film on the ground, and will record interviews with some huge guests. We'll be creating opportunities for new interviews, and to connect you with the reality of a European city under escalating winter attack, from an imperialist, genocidal power. PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: The Moscow Times — "Putin Demands Answers as Russia's Economy Undershoots Expectations" (April 15, 2026) Bloomberg — "Putin Orders Officials to Explain Russia's Economic Slowdown as GDP Falls" (April 15, 2026)Meduza — "Putin says Russia's GDP contraction in first 2 months of year is due to seasonal factors" (April 15, 2026) Xinhua / Free Malaysia Today — "Putin sounds alarm over Russia's slowing economy" (April 15, 2026) EADaily / Bloomberg report — "In Russia, they decided not to jam Telegram because of the fall in Putin's rating" (April 14, 2026) The Moscow Times — "Russia's Civilian Industry Downturn Accelerated in Early 2026" (March 30, 2026) Euromaidan Press — "Moscow booms as Russia's provinces collapse under war costs" (January 13, 2026) UNITED24 Media — "Why Major Russian Factories Are Shifting to Three-Day Workweeks" (April 2026)NV (New Voice of Ukraine) — "Russia's GDP shrinks 1.8% as 22 industries slide into decline" (April 2026) RBC Ukraine — "Crisis deepens in Russia's auto sector as KAMAZ trims workweek and AvtoVAZ shuts down line" (April 2026) The Moscow Times — "Russia's Rusal to Shutter Major Silicon Plant as Industry Cuts Deepen" (November 17, 2025) Militarnyi — "Russian Tank-Building Uralvagonzavod Announced Large-Scale Layoffs" (November 7, 2025) World Socialist Web Site — "Russia: Mass layoffs, strikes amid expanding war" (March 30, 2026) ----------