The most likely explanation today is that having long planned an incremental, meticulous campaign to rebuild the Soviet Union under his rule, he needs to complete the consolidation of his absolute rule in Russia. Every few years over the past twenty Putin has been systematically undermining checks and balances on the Russian presidency by introducing a series of new laws; some of which remained on the books but weren’t enforced. For Putin, his plan is lexically ordered, and that means the chief utility of the war at this point is to first eviscerate any alternate sources of authority—including access to reality for Russians—within Russia.

All independent news channels in Russia are now gone, and the incredibly brave, independent Russian journalists have fled and now live on charity since, ironically, economic sanctions mean they can no longer access their own funds while in exile. Moreover, Russians can no longer assemble and speak freely: the penalty for attempting it—even calling Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine a war or invasion—is arrest and a jail term of up to fifteen years.

Monica Duffy Toft is Professor of International Politics and Director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the Fletcher School of Government, Tufts University.

Image: Reuters.