Russians' morale has plummeted to the level seen at the time of the Soviet Union's collapse amid the protracted war
Pessimism about the country’s future is growing rapidly in Russia. According to a VTsIOM poll, 66% of Russians said in July that difficult times lie ahead for the country.
Since the beginning of 2026, the proportion of pessimistic citizens has risen by 16 percentage points. A similar level was last recorded in the early 1990s—during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the economic crisis.
The mood of Russians is influenced by the protracted war against Ukraine, the deteriorating economic situation, and regular strikes by Ukrainian long-range drones on targets within Russian territory.
According to experts, an increasing number of Russians are realizing that a quick end to the war is not expected. At the same time, regular attacks on Russian territory are undermining Putin’s key promise of security and stability.
Source: The Moscow Times.
Russian propaganda has stepped up a disinformation campaign aimed at stoking hostility between Ukrainians and Poles. To this end, it is using the “Matryoshka” network, which disseminates fake content styled to resemble well-known Western media outlets and think tanks.
The Kremlin-linked “Matryoshka” network has stepped up a disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting Ukraine and influencing the political situation in Hungary. Propaganda videos spread narratives about alleged calls for Hungarians to “take up arms.”
