Updated · Carnegie Endowment for International Peace · May 8
Russian public mood sours as Putin support fades and war discontent grows
Updated
Updated · Carnegie Endowment for International Peace · May 8
Russian public mood sours as Putin support fades and war discontent grows
7 articles · Updated · Carnegie Endowment for International Peace · May 8
Ahead of Moscow's 9 May Victory Day parade, security fears have cut rehearsals, hardware and personnel, while internet jamming aims to deter Ukrainian drone attacks.
The commentary says Russians feel betrayed as wartime controls deepen, including pressure to use the Max app, a VAT rise to 22%, and tighter payment-transfer rules.
It follows earlier reports of Russians increasingly blaming the Kremlin, as battlefield stalemate, strikes deep inside Russia and slowing growth erode the regime's wartime social bargain.
As Russia’s economy falters, will public weariness finally overcome the fear of state repression?
With coup anxiety rising in the Kremlin, is Putin's greatest threat now from his own inner circle?
Russia’s 2026 Crisis: War Fatigue, Elite Fractures, and Economic Stagnation
Overview
In 2026, Russia faces deepening public discontent driven by economic stagnation worsened by heavy war spending and international sanctions that sharply reduce oil revenues. A severe labor shortage, caused by conscription and emigration, further strains the economy and fuels inflation. Digital repression, including internet shutdowns and surveillance, intensifies public anger and fear. High-profile elite dissent exposes cracks within the regime’s power base. Systemic repression targets dissenters and minorities, justified by the Russian Orthodox Church, creating a climate of fear and self-censorship. Meanwhile, war fatigue grows amid youth militarization and coercive recruitment, especially of migrants, leading to societal fractures and rising emigration. These pressures erode public trust and threaten the regime’s stability.