“Frightened” Russians are turning to antidepressants as Vladimir Putin wages war in Ukraine, a Western officials revealed today.
Ordinary citizens shocked by the invasion are gulping tablets to make them feel better, sources said.
Sales of antidepressants surged by 48% and spending on the medication by 70% in the first nine months of this year compared with the same period in 2021, an official said.
“Russians are feeling worried, feeling concerned, feeling frightened … Not surprisingly, Russians are feeling more anxious,” they added.
Russia's Defence Ministry recently completed a partial mobilisation of troops after pledging to end the call-up at 300,000 men.
But an official blamed the partial military mobilisation for fuelling demand for antidepressant drugs - and bringing people onto the streets.
“The mobilisation sparked a strong public reaction in Russia,” the official revealed.
“We saw a spike in protest, we saw many more Russians fleeing the country.”
An estimated 400,000 are believed to have fled to avoid being drafted.
But “mobilisation has brought the war home to many and begun to expose - at least to some Russians - the relentless propaganda and lies that they are being fed”, said the source.
The official warned there was “no end in prospect” to the fighting.
“On both sides it looks like they are both digging in now for the long winter ahead as temperatures start to fall,” warned the official.
Urging Russia to end the war, they added: “This is going to continue to be a long, difficult, bloody conflict I’m afraid unless and until we can persuade them to stop and return to the path of diplomacy.”
The source said Kyiv refused to bow to Moscow’s military might when Putin ordered the invasion on February 24.
“The Ukrainians continue to demonstrate that they never read the plan and they are not going to comply with it,” they said.
“Ukraine retook substantial territory in September and is continuing to make gradual progress.”
Quizzed about 70-year-old Putin’s future, the official said people are “talking more about succession” following the “really catastrophic error” he committed by waging war.
The decision left him “weakened”, added the official.
“We are seeing the Russian military humbled by Ukraine on the battlefield,” they said.
“We are seeing the expansion of NATO, we are seeing the contraction of the Russian economy, we are seeing highly-skilled Russians leaving.
“I think people can see that he’s made a big error - they didn’t have a plan B, they thought this was going to be really easy.”
They added: “That has to mean that people are talking more about succession, they are talking more about what comes next, they are imagining a life beyond.
“But what I’m not doing is suggesting that is any time soon.”
Meanwhile, the Government confirmed business associates of Roman Abramovich will be among the latest Russian oligarchs to be slapped with sanctions.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly unveiled measures on four new Russian oligarchs, accusing them of being involved in industries helping to prop up the Russian military.
Alexander Abramov and Alexander Frolov, believed to be associated with former Chelsea FC owner Mr Abramovich and previous owners of major stakes in Russian steel manufacturer Evraz, are among those sanctioned.
The pair are believed to have an estimated global net worth of £4.1billion and £1.7bn respectively, with UK property investments worth £100million.
Airat Shaimiev, who has an estimated global net worth of £902m, and Albert Shigabutdinov, who has an estimated global net worth of £977m, were both also sanctioned.
All four will face travel bans, asset freezes and transport sanctions.
Mr Cleverly said: "By targeting these individuals, we are ramping up the economic pressure on Putin and will continue to do so until Ukraine prevails."
