Putin approval rating falls to lowest level since February 2022
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Independent · May 6
Putin approval rating falls to lowest level since February 2022
8 articles · Updated · Kyiv Independent · May 6
State-linked pollster FOM put support at 73% on 1 May, while VCIOM said nearly a quarter of Russians do not trust him.
Experts say the decline reflects elite friction over wartime internet censorship, as outages, VPN curbs and messaging-app throttling anger businesses and voters before September's Duma election.
Independent Levada also shows softer support and rising economic anxiety, but analysts say the slide does not yet threaten Kremlin stability after years of withstanding sanctions, casualties and unrest.
Is an internal war over internet control threatening Vladimir Putin's grip on power?
How does Russia's domestic internet crackdown sabotage its own global influence operations?
Sustained Decline: Putin’s Approval Rating Hits 65.6% as Russia Faces War Fatigue and Economic Crisis
Overview
By April 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval rating fell sharply to 65.6%, driven by a combination of war fatigue after four years of conflict, mounting casualties nearing 1% of the population, economic strain marked by high inflation and unpaid wages, and the Kremlin's crackdown on digital freedoms such as blocking Telegram. These factors have fueled growing public dissatisfaction and backlash, complicating governance and war strategy. The sustained decline in approval, confirmed by both state and independent polls, has heightened domestic instability ahead of upcoming elections, prompting speculation that the Kremlin may resort to diversionary tactics to regain support amid rising discontent.