---
title: "Head of Swedish Intelligence: Russia Has Chosen a Path That Cannot Be Reversed — Even Without Putin"
description: "Head of Swedish Intelligence warns: Russia will not return to its previous course — even without Putin. Economy in crisis, but the public remains unaware. No opposition exists because it was destroyed. 🇷🇺⚠️ #Sweden #Russia #Putin #Intelligence"
date: 2026-06-30T12:16:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/swedish-intelligence-russia-will-not-return-to-previous-course-even-without-putin
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Head of Swedish Intelligence: Russia Has Chosen a Path That Cannot Be Reversed — Even Without Putin

![Vladimir Putin in a business suit, against the backdrop of the topic about Russia choosing a path that cannot be reversed, even without his involvement](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/30/shvedskaya-razvedka-rossiya-ne-vernetsya-k-prezhnemu-kursu-dazhe-bez-putina/shvedskaya-razvedka-rossiya-ne-vernetsya-k-prezhnemu-kursu-dazhe-bez-putina-1.webp)

Russia will not return to its previous course — even if Vladimir Putin’s regime collapses. This conclusion was drawn by Thomas Nilsson, head of Sweden’s military intelligence, whose remarks were reported by Bloomberg citing RBC-Ukraine. According to him, the country has entered a phase of deep, structural, and long-term strategic confrontation with the West — and this state will not disappear by mere wish.

### Economy Under Pressure, But the Public Remains Unaware

Nilsson acknowledged that the Russian economy is facing serious difficulties. However, in his view, Putin’s inner circle is actively concealing the true situation from the population. “Russians are even unaware of the scale of the crisis they are plunged into due to the war against Ukraine,” he noted.

### Lack of Alternatives — The Core Problem

One of the reasons for the regime’s resilience has been the destruction of the political opposition. “There is no one who could channel public discontent into a political alternative,” emphasized the Swedish intelligence officer. This creates a vacuum in which, even if power were to fall, there is no ready replacement or program for change.

### Society Does Not Want Change

An even more alarming signal: the Russian population itself does not seek transformation. Many citizens share the Kremlin’s imperial ambitions and are willing to support them even after Putin’s departure. This means the root of the problem runs deeper than just the leader’s personality — it is embedded in public consciousness and the ideological matrix.

### Context: New Threats and Deadlines

Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that rhetoric about threats from NATO and Ukraine is intensifying again in Moscow. It also became known that Putin has set a new deadline for capturing Donbas — although Zelenskyy has already warned that this is not a final demand. Meanwhile, Lithuania has reacted to rumors of a possible Russian invasion in the near future.

Thus, Nilsson’s forecast sounds like a warning: hopes for a quick shift in Russia’s course following a change in power are an illusion. The country is moving along a path that cannot be reversed without fundamental internal changes — and these are currently not visible in the economy, politics, or society.