The approval rating of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, is showing unprecedented downward dynamics. In just one week, support for the head of state among Russians fell by 5 percentage points. According to sociological services, such a rate of decline has not been recorded since autumn 2022.
FOM data: new low since the start of the war
According to a study by the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM), the share of citizens who positively assess the President's work has dropped to 66%. This is 5 points lower than the previous week's figure (71%). Experts note that the last time such a sharp decline was observed was at the end of September – early October 2022, against the backdrop of the announcement of partial mobilization.
The 66% figure has become a new low since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, the share of respondents who negatively assess the head of state's work has increased: it reached 16%, which is also a record since the start of the conflict.
Trust in Vladimir Putin decreased less sharply — by 2 percentage points. Currently, 67% of those surveyed stated that they trust the President. The share of those who do not trust has risen to 20%. Both indicators have reached such values for the first time since the start of the war.
Decline in support for the government and Mishustin
The negative trend has also affected the executive branch. The positive assessment of the government's work fell by 4 points and amounted to 41%. This figure is approaching the share of those who assess the cabinet's activities negatively — 37% (an increase of 3 points over the week).
The rating of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has also declined. 49% of respondents assess his work positively, which is 3 points less than a week ago.
VCIOM data: downward trend
The state All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VCIOM) recorded similar dynamics, although the figures differ. According to their data, approval of Putin's work fell by 0.9 points over the week and reached 65.1% (compared to 70.4% in mid-June). The level of trust in the President decreased by 1.3 points to 71% (against 76.7% in mid-June).
VCIOM notes that the level of approval has reached a new low since the start of the war, while the level of trust has equaled the previous low, which was recorded in April against the backdrop of internet resource blocks.
Unlike FOM, VCIOM recorded an increase in approval of the government's work (45.6%) and Mikhail Mishustin personally (47.3%).
Fuel crisis as the main reason
Experts cite the fuel crisis in many regions of Russia as the main reason for the drop in the President's rating. For the second week in a row, more than 19% of respondents name the fuel shortage as the main event of the week.
The second most important topic for Russians remains the war in Ukraine (18%), and the third is the shelling of Russian territory (14%).
An additional factor affecting public sentiment is the general economic situation. A Levada Center study shows that in June, consumer sentiment among Russians deteriorated to the level of autumn 2022.
