Most of his inner circle was in the dark about his plan to invade. Putin and his hardline advisers made the decision. These included Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, General Staff chief Valery Gerasimov, and Secretary of Russia’s Security Council General Staff chief Nikolai Patrushev.
Some who have publicly spoken out denouncing Putin’s war include Anatoly Chubais, Russia’s climate envoy. He resigned and left Russia after publicly breaking with the Kremlin over Putin’s invasion.
Oleg Deripaska, the founder of Russian aluminum giant Rusal, also said the invasion was “madness,” which would disgrace generations of Russians. The United States and Britain have sanctioned Deripaska.
Arkady Dvorkovich, the head of the Skolkovo Foundation, also quit after condemning the invasion. Bernard Zonneveld, the Dutch chairman of Rusal, has also called for an impartial investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Bucha, near Kyiv.
On Tuesday (April 19, 2022), billionaire businessman Oleg Tinkov publicly slammed Putin’s “crazy war.” Tinkov said 90 per cent of his fellow citizens do not support it.
Tinkov referred to a publicity campaign using the “Z” logo of the armed forces. “Of course, there are morons who draw Z, but 10% of any country are morons. 90% of Russians are AGAINST this war!” wrote Tinkov.
However, he called on the West to offer Putin a dignified way to withdraw.
