Kathrine Frich
Each year, Russia’s president takes questions from citizens in a tightly managed televised event.
The broadcast is meant to project control and reassurance during uncertain times.
This year, public concerns appear harder to deflect.
Two main worries
Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding his annual “Direct Line” Q&A as frustration grows over the war in Ukraine and mounting economic pressures.
According to Business Insider, an independent poll suggests those two issues dominate what Russians want to ask their leader.
A survey conducted by the Levada Center among 1,608 respondents found that questions about the war and living standards have topped public concerns for the third year in a row.
About one in five respondents said they would ask when the war in Ukraine would end. The Kremlin continues to describe the conflict as a “special military operation.”
Cost of living
The economy ranked just behind the war. Around 16% of respondents said their main concern was declining living standards, including salaries, pensions and state benefits, the Levada Center found.
Other worries followed at a distance. About 8% said they wanted to ask about rising prices and taxes, 6% cited utilities and social services, and 5% pointed to problems in the healthcare system.
According to Business Insider, these concerns reflect growing strain on household finances.
Wartime economy
Russia’s economy has been reshaped since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which triggered sweeping Western sanctions.
The Kremlin has shifted the country onto a wartime footing, prioritizing defense spending and state-led investment.
Those measures have supported headline economic growth, but pressure points are emerging.
Energy export revenues have fallen amid softer oil prices, while inflation remains high and continues to erode consumer purchasing power.
Rising defense outlays have also competed with social spending, adding to public unease.
Familiar playbook
Previous marathon “Direct Line” broadcasts offer clues about how Putin may respond.
Last year, he acknowledged that inflation was running too high and said the economy was overheating.
At the same time, he shifted responsibility toward the central bank and the federal government, which is formally led by the prime minister, according to Business Insider.
Putin is also expected to hold his annual end-of-year news conference following the Q&A, where observers will look for any signals about the future course of the war.
Sources: Business Insider, Levada Center
