Putin's Approval Ratings Hit Wartime Low in 2026: Inside the Kremlin's Choreographed PR Blitz

By mid-2026, Vladimir Putin's approval ratings had fallen to their lowest levels since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, triggering a carefully orchestrated Kremlin response involving petrol price stunts, cosmetic roadwork, and tight security lockdowns.

Approval Ratings in Steep Decline

State pollster VTsIOM recorded Putin's approval at 65.6% in late April 2026 — its lowest point since before the invasion, down from approximately 74% at the end of 2025 . Independent pollster FOM recorded a five-percentage-point drop in a single week in mid-July, pushing approval to 66%, the steepest weekly decline since the war began . VTsIOM also recorded the sharpest two-year drop in trust ratings in late June, falling 3.4 points in one week to 73.3% .

For the first time since the start of the war, the approval rating fell below 70%, according to Le Monde . Kremlin-linked polling agencies changed their polling methodology in March–April 2026 in an apparent attempt to stem the decline . VTsIOM also stopped public release of its monthly open-ended trust poll after that metric reportedly dropped to around 25% .

The Kremlin's Choreographed Response

Rapid Multi-City Tour

After months of rarely leaving Moscow, Putin launched an intense burst of regional travel starting in June 2026. As of August 10–12, he had visited five cities since the start of the year — and four in the last two and a half weeks alone: Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Ulan-Ude (Buryatia), and Novosibirsk (arriving August 11) . He avoided regions in European Russia where Ukrainian drone strikes are frequent, sticking mostly to Siberia .

Petrol Price Manipulation

A pattern emerged in multiple cities. In Krasnoyarsk (August 3), gasoline prices dropped by more than half — from approximately 140 rubles to about 67 rubles per liter — on the day of Putin's visit. Stations that had been locked and out of fuel for weeks suddenly reopened. Prices snapped back to previous levels the day after he left . The same tactic was used earlier in Irkutsk . Le Monde described this as "wherever Putin goes, gasoline prices fall" . Fuel is deliberately delivered and prices slashed for the photo opportunity, then restored afterward .

Cosmetic Road Repairs and Urban Cleanup

In Ulan-Ude, streets were repaved, traffic was restricted, and electric scooter use was banned ahead of Putin's arrival . In Novosibirsk, roads were resurfaced and cosmetic repairs were carried out in the days before his visit .

Security Lockdowns

In Novosibirsk (August 11), authorities ordered residents not to go outside, not to approach windows, and not to use electronic or optical devices while the presidential motorcade passed. Police were stationed every 50 meters along the route . Free movement was restricted, windows in buildings along the route were covered, and residents were told to stay indoors for hours .

Lowered Election Targets

The Presidential Administration initially set a target of 55% of the vote for United Russia with 50% turnout. But Meduza reported that regional administrations were told to aim for 60% — still a significant reduction from past supermajorities . The declining ratings forced the Kremlin to lower expectations for the September Duma elections rather than risk an embarrassing result .

Methodology Caveat

Wartime polling in Russia is difficult to independently verify. State pollsters (VTsIOM, FOM) are Kremlin-linked, and their methodology changes in spring 2026 were seen as an attempt to slow the decline . Independent outlets like Meduza, Agentstvo, and FOM's published figures still show a clear downward trend.