Putin's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Even official Russian polls, which the Kremlin uses as a propaganda tool, have recorded a sharp drop in Vladimir Putin’s approval rating from 74% in February to 65.6% in April, while his trust rating fell by 7 points to 71%. For Russia, this is the worst result since the start of the major war against Ukraine in 2022. 

This is reported by Forbes. 

The main reasons for the dictator’s decline in popularity are the protracted war, high inflation, strikes by Ukrainian drones, and widespread problems caused by internet outages and the blocking of Telegram.

Nearly a third of Russians currently have relatives participating in combat operations, and about 70% of Russian territory is within range of Ukrainian UAVs, which is heightening public anxiety. Additionally, more than half of the citizens surveyed in April cited “very high” inflation, the economic consequences of which are becoming increasingly difficult to conceal. However, what worries Russian residents the most are the regular internet outages and the blocking of messaging apps, which the authorities explain as countermeasures against Ukrainian drones, but which have paralyzed electronic payments, ATMs, delivery services, and small businesses.

Amid public discontent, Putin himself is becoming increasingly isolated and, according to journalists, has spent several weeks in a bunker out of fear of an assassination attempt or a coup. A rift is growing within the dictator’s inner circle between civilian officials and security forces, as the intelligence services insist on strict restrictions, while the economic wing has tried to dissuade Putin from such measures. Currently, the Kremlin leader is listening exclusively to military generals who assure him that control over Donbas will be secured by the end of the year; however, large-scale repression and interference in people’s daily lives risk provoking a backlash within Russia.