Russia's Internal Struggle

Without a sustainable solution from Moscow, a lack of rainfall and access to fresh water resources will increasingly threaten Crimea's industrial and agricultural consumption.

Preliminary results of Russia’s constitutional referendum suggest the amendments will be passed easily, thus setting the Kremlin on a course to prepare its political system for a future without Putin.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended Stratfor articles from the week that was.

Moscow’s $3.6 billion bailout plan for the United Aircraft Corporation may offer the state-owned conglomerate some relief, but it won't fix the systemic financial issues that have straddled Russian defense companies with debt.

Moscow's rainy day fund managed to grow in value despite the fallout from COVID-19. But a sudden surge in government spending remains unlikely.

Given the faster-than-expected recovery in oil prices, OPEC and its allies will reportedly consider a Saudi-Russian compromise to only briefly delay the tapering of current cuts.

Regardless of what happens with Mishustin's health, Moscow will still struggle to regain control over its economic growth trajectory amid plummeting oil prices and global demand.

Taking control of the media narrative plus creating new parties to draw away votes from the opposition will be key to Putin's ability to retain power.

Moscow’s unwillingness to cough up the capital needed to keep its private sector afloat during the pandemic will come at the cost of a longer and more painful economic recovery.

As Russia’s active oil fields shrink, shifting focus to more difficult-to-access reserves won’t be easy. But reducing Moscow’s reliance on oil revenue may prove all but impossible.