[BoneShard]

>>> but the regime in Russia has popular support.

Yeah, because in Russia if you don't support the regime then straight to jail.

[int_19h]

That's not quite true even today (it all depends on how loud your non-support is), and was even less true prior to the war. The majority support Putin not because the alternative is prison but because they genuinely believe that he's a good leader. And they're wrong, but that's a different story.