I hear the same reports. I wouldn't be surprised. Maybe he just want to go out with a big bang. They all fear him and wouldn't dare question him like how it was with Stalin.
Thats built into the psyche of the people there. They've lived under one thumb or another forever. Literally.
They only hope for a bit more prosperity, food on the shelves, energy for heat like that.
Like everyone else in the world they just want to raise their families and hope not so much BS from the government. And enough vodka to take ther minds off the government.