Part 2/9:
Zign begins by outlining the current sociopolitical climate in Russia. He highlights that the demographic crisis, illustrated by low birth rates and high emigration facilitated by the ongoing war in Ukraine, contributes to an unsettling atmosphere. The war effort has proven to be costly both in financial and human terms, and Zign suggests that should a massive military defeat occur in Ukraine, it could act as a catalyst for civil conflict and a potential collapse of the state.