Russians' trust in the government has more than halved in six months – The Economist
Russians' satisfaction with government policy has dropped significantly over the past six months. According to The Economist, this figure fell from 45% in January to 21% in June, while the share of citizens who believe the country is heading in the wrong direction has doubled over the past year—from 17% to 35%.
According to the publication, Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries, which have caused fuel shortages across Russia, have already forced people to feel the consequences of the war firsthand. The recent strikes on Wildberries warehouses have further undermined the notion that hostilities would be limited to Ukrainian territory and have clearly demonstrated the Russian authorities’ inability to protect their own people.
“These black plumes of smoke have become part of everyday life,” one Moscow resident told the publication. Russian political scientist Elena Panfilova noted that the attacks on Wildberries warehouses have, to one degree or another, affected nearly the entire population: some physically, others financially, and still others psychologically.
Sellers on this marketplace flooded social media with videos and posts about their losses. However, for Wildberries itself, the attack did not come as a complete surprise: two weeks before the strikes, the company had revised the terms of its contracts with sellers, waiving liability for losses related to the war.
According to the pro-government VTsIOM, satisfaction with the government’s performance fell from 45% in January to 21% in June. The number of people who believe Russia is heading in the wrong direction has doubled over the past year—from 17% to 35%, according to the independent polling firm Levada. President Putin’s approval rating is also declining.
The Kremlin cannot control the mood of the Russian people—the majority wants the war to end. News broadcasts are omitting information about Ukrainian drone strikes, which further erodes trust in television—one of Putin’s levers of influence. Although 56% of Russians still cite television as their main source of information, only 37% trust it.
Previously, Putin showed Russians the war on their TV screens. Now, the publication concludes, he has brought it into their daily lives, writes The Economist.
As a reminder, Putin’s approval rating has plummeted to its lowest level since the start of the full-scale war.
We also previously reported that Russian businesses are moving capital abroad, according to intelligence reports.
Intelligence: A new mobilization in Russia could trigger an economic crisis lasting for years.
Intelligence reports note a deterioration in the Russian economy despite external conflicts.
