Kremlin Faces Strong Public Backlash Over Increased Censorship, ISW Analysts Report

The Kremlin is currently grappling with serious difficulties in its interactions with the Russian public, as the recent intensification of censorship has provoked an unexpectedly strong reaction from citizens. This alarming trend is documented in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), released on April 4, which reveals a significant deterioration in the trust levels towards President Vladimir Putin.

According to a survey conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM), Putin's trust rating has plummeted by five percentage points, dropping from 76% to 71% since March 22. This decline marks the largest drop since 2019 and reflects a growing discontent among the populace. Weekly FOM surveys have shown a consistent decrease in trust towards the president since February 8, 2026, which experts attribute to the restrictions placed on Telegram, initiated around February 9-10.

On April 3, the Russian publication Important Stories reported that some propagandists and Z-bloggers have begun to openly express their frustration with the Kremlin's actions regarding the blocking of Telegram. They lament that Moscow is spending substantial resources on censorship while prices for goods continue to rise, and Russian troops remain without effective communication tools on the battlefield.

Russian officials are seeking a way out of the current predicament, as the negative response from society, particularly among ultra-nationalist military bloggers, becomes increasingly pronounced. In recent weeks, officials have made contradictory statements regarding the Kremlin's policy on Telegram, indicating a lack of a clear strategy concerning censorship issues. The authorities appear to be facing a greater backlash than they anticipated, which is corroborated by the ISW report.

In response to the Kremlin's attempts to ban the messenger and virtual private networks (VPNs), Telegram founder Pavel Durov noted that 65 million Russians continue to use VPNs daily to access the social network. Durov emphasized that the Kremlin's actions have led to significant disruptions in the operations of payment and transfer services of several Russian banks.

According to data from Downdetector, on March 16, Telegram almost completely ceased functioning in Russia, with both the mobile application and the web version being non-operational. Previously, Roskomnadzor had claimed that the messenger was 'not complying with Russian legislation,' thus its operations would be gradually restricted. In February, connectivity on Telegram indeed worsened, causing panic on propaganda channels, as Russian occupiers on the front lines could no longer communicate via Telegram.

Durov also stated that the Russian authorities are attempting to force their citizens to switch to a state application designed for surveillance and political censorship. This messenger, known as the national messenger MAX, is entirely controlled by the Russian security services. Consequently, the situation regarding censorship in Russia continues to escalate, raising concerns among both the population and analysts.