St. Petersburg was beset by a succession of bad news, and Alexander II had reached his breaking point. The decline of the Russian Empire was laid bare, with the repute amassed in the Near East War rapidly eroding.
The international situation was a minor concern, the biggest trouble was internal. From the start, Alexander II had been using the war to divert internal contradictions, attempting to ease domestic strife through military expansion and the seizure of assets.
As the situation on the battlefield worsened, the domestic state of affairs also deteriorated. This time, it wasn't a struggle between the Conservatives and the Reformists, but rather the lower classes who were close to their breaking point.
With the blockade of the sea routes, St. Petersburg faced a severe shortage in the supply of living necessities, causing prices to rise incessantly. If the capital was enduring such hardships, one need not mention the conditions of the surrounding cities.
