Vladimir Putin's Approval Rating Declines
Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval rating has dropped by 1.9 percentage points to 67.5%. His trust rating remains slightly higher at 73.7%. These figures come from the state-run polling agency, the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM).
Notably, a change in survey methodology—adding in-person apartment visits to traditional phone interviews—initially caused a temporary boost in ratings, but the numbers have since started falling again.
Temporary Rating Spike Fades
Pollsters reported a short-lived increase in Putin's ratings after the new methodology was introduced, but the effect proved fleeting. Approval indicators have resumed their downward trend, despite the government's tight control over media and propaganda.
- The rating is published weekly on Fridays at 10:00 AM Moscow time.
- Data was not released on May 1.
- The survey results also failed to appear on the first working day after the long holidays.
This decline in approval and trust for Putin's performance marks the lowest level since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Earlier polls had already shown the rating dropping for seven consecutive weeks.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that 'Russian President Vladimir Putin refrains from announcing mobilization because he fears losing popularity in Russia.'
The drop in Putin's approval rating reflects the growing challenges he faces in governing the country, especially amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The methodological shift that initially lifted the rating suggests that even with new data collection approaches, presidential support remains fragile.
This may indicate rising public concern over Russia's economic and social conditions, which carries significant implications for the Kremlin's future policies.
The recent decline in Putin's approval ratings has prompted a reevaluation of survey methodologies, highlighting the Kremlin's ongoing struggle to maintain public support. As the situation evolves, a closer look at changes in polling techniques in Russia reveals how these adjustments may reflect broader societal concerns and the challenges facing the government amidst the conflict in Ukraine.