Trust in Putin Drops by 5% in Russia - ISW

According to a new report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin has significantly declined, dropping by 5% from 76% to 71%. This decrease marks the largest drop since 2019 and indicates that the Kremlin is facing a harsher negative response from the public than anticipated.

The data comes from a survey conducted by the Forum for Public Opinion (FOM), which is linked to the Kremlin, from March 27 to March 29. The results suggest that trust in Putin began to decline as early as February 2026, when the authorities decided to significantly restrict access to the popular messaging app Telegram.

This move sparked increased criticism from Russian propagandists and war correspondents who are dissatisfied with the government's attempts to block Telegram. They point to the costs incurred by the state budget for censorship amid rising prices, as well as communication issues for military personnel that could negatively impact their operations.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov reported that despite the restrictions, approximately 65 million Russians use VPNs daily to access the service. He also noted that the Kremlin's actions led to widespread disruptions in banking systems on April 3, when issues with payment processing arose due to the blocking of IP addresses in Russia.

The ISW report emphasizes that Russian authorities demonstrate a lack of a coherent strategy regarding censorship, and the public's reaction to these actions has proven to be significantly stronger than the Kremlin expected. This indicates a growing discontent among the population, which could have serious implications for political stability in the country.

Experts point out that the potential blocking of Telegram in Russia reflects the Kremlin's fear of external information influences and an attempt to establish complete control over communications within the country. This underscores the authorities' efforts to limit access to independent sources of information, which may lead to even greater dissatisfaction among the populace.

Thus, the situation regarding trust in Putin and the public's response to government actions suggests that the Kremlin is facing serious challenges that could have far-reaching consequences for the political landscape in Russia. In the face of growing criticism and public discontent, the authorities will need to find new ways to restore trust and stability in the country.

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