- Category
- Latest news
Putin’s Approval Rating Slides to 66.7% Amid Falling Trust and Declining Party Support
- Authors
![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
For the sixth consecutive week, Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s approval rating has continued to decline, as reported by Meduza on April 17, citing the state-owned Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM).
Between April 6 and 12, the approval rating fell to 66.7%, marking a 1.1 percentage point drop compared to the previous week. Trust in Putin also decreased by 1.8 percentage points, now standing at 72%, according to the VCIOM data.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
The ruling party, United Russia, has also seen a decline in support. Its approval rating dropped to 27.3%, a decrease of 2.4 percentage points over the course of a week.
In contrast, the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM), a group closely tied to the Kremlin and responsible for polling commissioned by the Russian presidential administration, recorded a different trend in late March. According to FOM, Putin’s approval ratings increased in April. In its latest report, published on April 17, FOM stated that 76% of respondents rated Putin’s presidency positively, an increase from 74% on March 29.
The latest polls indicate growing public frustration, as Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings have dropped to their lowest levels since early 2022.
-e32dbbd9f523c857652f8cb2759eb32c.png)
According to Russia’s state polling agency VTsIOM, Putin’s approval fell to 67.8% in the week ending April 5, 2026, marking a significant decline and reflecting broader dissatisfaction with government institutions.
The decline is attributed to various ongoing government measures, including the blocking of Telegram, restrictions on VPN usage, and increasing internet shutdowns. Putin’s approval rating has fallen by 2.3 points in the past week and by 4.9 points over the last month. Since the end of 2023, his approval has dropped by 10 points.
Other government institutions also saw declines in approval ratings, with the Russian government at 40.3%, the State Duma at 41.7%, and the Federation Council at 41.8%. These are all the lowest levels since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began.
-314683458ab1fea008a33b8e7f8942cd.png)
In an open poll conducted by VTsIOM, Putin's trust rating plummeted to 29.5%, a sharp decline from 48.8% in March 2024. This marks the lowest trust level since the war began, indicating a more than one-third decrease in public confidence.
At the same time, it was reported that since 2019, Russian courts in both Russia and the temporarily occupied Crimea have handled at least 391 cases related to online “disrespect” toward the Russian leader.
These cases have impacted at least 379 individuals, ranging from students and cleaners to those managing small Telegram channels with only a few followers.
-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
