Putin’s approval rating has fallen to 65.6 percent, the lowest level since before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to the latest data from the state-owned VTsIOM polling agency.
This marks the seventh consecutive week of declining support for both Putin and the Russian government, with distrust in the president reaching 24.1 percent — the highest share since the war began — and disapproval of government activities climbing to 31.1 percent, up roughly seven points since February.
The drop coincides with a deepening economic slump and an aggressive crackdown on digital freedoms, including the blocking of Telegram and widespread internet slowdowns that have disrupted banking, navigation, and daily life in cities from Moscow to Yaroslavl.
While Putin still commands majority approval, only 39.7 percent of Russians explicitly endorse the government as a whole, revealing a growing split between personal loyalty to the president and dissatisfaction with state institutions.
The Kremlin is managing conflicting poll data by steering media toward alternative metrics
VTsIOM released its latest figures with a two-hour delay, citing technical issues, though media outlets noted the timing as unusual. Shortly after, sources within pro-Kremlin circles advised journalists to cite the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) instead — which shows Putin’s approval at 76 percent and trust at 74 percent — or to avoid reporting ratings altogether.
This divergence reflects a broader pattern: VTsIOM has tracked seven straight weeks of decline, while FOM has shown no corresponding drop, suggesting competing narratives within Russia’s information ecosystem.
A political technologist linked to the Presidential Administration told Meduza that the slide in VTsIOM data stems from overlapping pressures: restricted mobile internet, rising prices, and war fatigue among the public.
Economic contraction and digital controls are eroding everyday stability
Russia’s GDP contracted in early 2026 for the first time since 2023, with January and February showing a 1 percent decline, according to Rosstat, underscoring the toll of prolonged war and Western sanctions.
At the same time, authorities have framed internet outages as necessary for security, claiming they prevent terrorist attacks — a justification met with skepticism by analysts who see the moves as part of a broader effort to create a “sovereign internet” and tighten control over dissent.
The blocking of Telegram, YouTube, and Facebook in March pushed users toward the state-backed Max app, which critics warn could enable surveillance, further fueling public frustration over lost access to independent communication.
Historical parallels suggest the current decline mirrors past moments of domestic unrest
The pace of Putin’s popularity drop echoes the summer of 2018, when his rating fell 19 points after the Kremlin announced a controversial pension reform, according to the Moscow Times.
Then, as now, the decline followed a policy perceived as burdensome on ordinary citizens — then, raising the retirement age; now, economic strain and digital isolation — revealing how quickly public sentiment can shift when welfare and connectivity are threatened.
Such comparisons highlight that even in a tightly controlled information environment, sustained pressure on living standards can trigger measurable backlash, though the current dip remains less severe than the 2018 plunge.
Why are there conflicting approval ratings for Putin from different Russian polling agencies?
VTsIOM shows declining trust and approval, while FOM reports stable or slightly higher figures. Kremlin-linked sources have advised media to use FOM data instead, suggesting an effort to manage perceptions of public sentiment amid growing discontent.
How does the current economic situation in Russia compare to earlier in the war?
Russia’s GDP contracted in early 2026 for the first time since 2023, with a 1 percent drop in January and February, indicating worsening economic strain after years of war and sanctions, reversing earlier resilience.
What role does the internet crackdown play in shaping public opinion?
The blocking of Telegram and other platforms, along with widespread slowdowns, has disrupted daily life and fueled frustration, with critics viewing the moves as tools to suppress dissent rather than genuine security measures, even as authorities claim they prevent terrorist attacks.
