Russia has recorded its highest level of public anxiety in nearly two years
Anxiety has surged sharply in Russian society amid economic problems, internet restrictions, and the lack of prospects for a swift end to the war.
According to the Public Opinion Foundation, as of April 19, 47% of respondents said they noticed anxious moods among those around them. This is 7 percentage points higher than at the beginning of the month.
For the first time since the fall of 2024, the proportion of those feeling anxiety has exceeded the number of those who do not notice it.
A previous similar surge was recorded during the events in the Kursk region, as well as in 2023 amid drone attacks and at the end of 2022 following the announcement of mobilization.
Experts attribute the current rise in anxiety to accumulated public fatigue, a demand for change, and dissatisfaction with new restrictions and state interference in daily life.
Russian state sociological services continue to record a decline in support for President Vladimir Putin amid the blocking of Telegram, restrictions on VPNs, and internet outages across the country.
