Putin Has Realized That His Approval Rating Is Plummeting

The governor has set out on a tour of cities across Russia.

The streets of Novosibirsk, Siberia’s largest city, haven’t looked this well-maintained in a long time: the roads have been paved, the sidewalks repaired, and the grass mowed, writes The Times.

As the publication explains, the city’s beautification efforts were hurriedly completed ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit on Tuesday. “They’re practically rebuilding the city in three days. Heck, if he came more often, maybe we’d see a completely new city within a year,” one local resident wrote on social media.

The article notes that at the beginning of the year, the Russian leader rarely left Moscow—likely out of fear of an assassination attempt. However, he has now managed to visit six cities in less than three weeks. According to analysts, Putin may be trying to boost his falling popularity in this way.

According to data from the Public Opinion Foundation—a polling agency linked to the Kremlin—Putin’s approval rating dropped to 66% in July, marking a historic low since the start of the war against Ukraine in 2022. Critics claim that his actual support is even lower.

The publication also notes that the war is having an increasingly tangible impact on Russia itself: attacks by Ukrainian drones and missiles are leading to fuel shortages, internet outages, and civilian casualties. “During Putin’s recent visits to Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk, two other cities in Siberia, gasoline prices were lowered—apparently by official order—but immediately after his departure, they skyrocketed again,” the article states.

Although elections in Russia are traditionally rigged in favor of Putin and his ruling party, and the security services harshly suppress any signs of dissent, the Kremlin is known to closely monitor public sentiment.

Local residents wrote on Telegram that residents of apartment buildings and student dormitories along the route of Putin’s motorcade in Novosibirsk were prohibited from approaching windows and using electronic devices. Restrictions were also imposed on the use of electric scooters.

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