July 20, 2025

Putin's Popularity Perpetuates


Putin's Popularity Perpetuates
The one, the only. The Russian Life files.

On July 18, state news outlet Izvestia reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has a positive approval rating of among nearly three quarters of the population.

The data, based on a survey from state-owned Russian Public Opinion Research Center, found that 74.4% of Russians approve of the job Putin is doing. In addition, Putin is trusted by 77.6% of those polled.

The results are remarkable for a couple of reasons. First, when Russian Life reported on a similar survey last October, the numbers were almost exactly the same: 74.4% approval, and 78% trust.

Second, readers in the West may be surprised by these high numbers, given Russia's current context. It has been more than three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, but (if the numbers are to be believed) it seems that war weariness has yet to set in. In addition, the Russian economy is beginning to see signs of inflation (likely caused by excessive military spending).

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