---
title: "Rating Drop and Fuel Shortage: How Strikes on Refineries Affect Russians' Trust in Putin"
description: "Putin's trust rating is falling for the second week in a row: VTsIOM and FOM record a decline in figures. The main topic of the week for Russians was not the front, but the gasoline shortage and price hikes due to strikes on refineries. The Kremlin rejected the idea of a ceasefire and is preparing for a new escalation. 📉⛽🇷🇺"
date: 2026-07-10T08:22:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/rating-drop-and-fuel-shortage-how-strikes-on-refineries-affect-russians-trust-in-putin
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Rating Drop and Fuel Shortage: How Strikes on Refineries Affect Russians' Trust in Putin

![Vladimir Putin at his desk in an office with the Russian flag in the background, contemplating the impact of refinery strikes on public trust and approval ratings](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/10/padenie-reytinga-putina-defitsit-benzina-i-udary-po-npz/padenie-reytinga-putina-defitsit-benzina-i-udary-po-npz-1.webp)

Vladimir Putin's ratings have been declining for the second week in a row. According to polls, the level of trust in the president and approval of his activities have begun to fall against the backdrop of conflict escalation and problems with energy infrastructure.

### Poll Figures: Downward Trend

According to a VTsIOM survey conducted from June 29 to July 5, 66% of respondents expressed approval of the head of state's activities. This is 0.9 percentage points lower than the previous week's figure. The level of trust in Putin stood at 72.3%, which is also 1 percentage point lower than a week ago.

The Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) also confirms the negative trend. During a poll conducted from July 3 to 5, trust in the president dropped from 71% to 69%. At the same time, FOM recorded a slight increase in the assessment of the head of state's work — from 70% to 71%.

### Main Topic of the Week: Gasoline Shortage

The reason for the drop in ratings was not only military events but also economic difficulties. According to FOM, the main event of the week for Russians was the gasoline shortage and its price hike. 20% of respondents answered this way.

For comparison: 18% of respondents named the "special operation" in general as the main topic, and 12% mentioned shelling of Russian territories. Just a week ago, the balance of power was different: 19% of citizens mentioned shelling, 15% mentioned the SMO in general, and only 14% spoke about fuel problems.

### Consequences of Strikes on Infrastructure

The growing attention to the fuel issue is directly linked to attacks on oil infrastructure. As a result of Ukrainian drone strikes, Russia lost between 20% and 40% of its oil refining capacity. The fuel crisis has affected around 50 million citizens.

The situation has become so acute that around 50 regions introduced restrictions on gasoline sales even before the end of June.

### Kremlin Plans and Rejection of Ceasefire

Despite the worsening situation within the country and pressure from circumstances, the course to continue the conflict remains unchanged. As RBC-Ukraine reported, advisers proposed the idea of a ceasefire along the front line to Vladimir Putin, but the head of state rejected this proposal.

According to sources close to the Kremlin cited by Reuters, Putin's main task at the moment remains establishing control over the entire Donbas. A new escalation of hostilities is likely in the coming months.