Growing economic pressure and persistent Ukrainian drone attacks inside Russia have caused public satisfaction with government policies to drop to 21 percent in June 2026, down from 45 percent six months earlier, according to survey data from state-run pollster VTsIOM.
The public shift comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin contends with widespread fuel disruptions, mobile internet blackouts, and damaged energy infrastructure that have directly affected daily life across multiple regions.
>>> DWP Moves August State Pension Payments Early for Bank Holidays
Approval Ratings Decline
Data from the independent Levada Center shows President Putin's personal approval rating fell to 74 percent in June 2026, marking a 13-point drop from August 2025 and its lowest point since the start of the full-scale conflict.
A separate survey by state pollster VTsIOM recorded approval at 66.9 percent in late June, down from 70.4 percent the previous week.
Regional polling conducted by the Institute for Conflict Studies and Analysis of Russia indicates even sharper declines in specific areas, recording trust levels at 39 percent in Krasnodar Krai and 37 percent in Rostov Oblast, with support dropping below 25 percent among respondents under age 30.
Economic indicators have also trended downward as the Bank of Russia lowered its 2026 growth projection to between zero and 1 percent while raising inflation forecasts to between 6 and 7 percent.
Gasoline prices have surged 16 percent since January 2026, prompting a central bank rate cut to 14 percent on July 24 to cushion weakening activity.
