Kathrine Frich
Life under strict rules takes a toll.
When money gets tight and internet screens go dark, quiet grumbling often turns into visible anger.
That boiling point might be approaching faster than expected in one highly controlled nation.
A growing frustration
Recent polling shows a major shift inside Russia. The independent Levada Center found that the willingness to protest has hit its highest point in nearly two years.
The news outlet Agentstvo reported the findings. According to the April survey, 20 percent of citizens believe mass demonstrations over falling living standards are now possible.
Meanwhile, 14 percent of respondents think political rallies are likely. Both numbers mark a significant jump from late 2025, representing the highest levels seen since July 2024.
Emptying the wallet
The root cause seems to be money. The civilian economy is shrinking quickly, and everyday buyers are losing their purchasing power.
United24 Media noted that the Kremlin is pouring record amounts of cash into the military. Regular people face a much darker reality. Brutal inflation and harsh new taxes are sweeping the country.
A recent value-added tax hike to 22 percent destroyed any recent wage gains. Families must now cut back on basic goods.
When asked if they would actually take to the streets, 12 percent said they would join a political rally. Another 16 percent admitted they would participate in economic protests.
A collapse in trust
These numbers still sit below the massive pre-war levels. Back in January 2021, when opposition leader Alexei Navalny returned, nearly half the country expected political rallies.
Yet the current anger is dragging down the government. Agentstvo highlighted that public approval is collapsing across the board, even according to state-run pollsters like VCIOM.
Recent data from VCIOM shows Russian President Vladimir Putin dropping to a 66.7 percent approval rating. That is his lowest mark since the invasion began.
Unpopular new rules
The lack of faith goes deeper than the president. In open polls, overall public trust in the Russian leader plummeted to 29.5 percent.
The ruling party hit record wartime lows. It is not just the economy driving this massive drop in popularity.
Citizens are furious over a series of strict domestic crackdowns. Recent moves to block the Telegram app, restrict VPN access, and shut down the internet are fueling the fire.
Sources: Levada Center, Agentstvo, United24 Media, VCIOM
