Putin under pressure: declining approval and economic problems in Russia

Approval for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s work has fallen to 73 percent, the lowest level since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to state-affiliated pollster FOM.
Russia’s economy shrank by 1.8 percent in January and February 2026, with the central bank forecasting GDP growth of only 0.5 to 1.5 percent for the full year.
Over 80 percent of Russian companies have frozen investments, despite the central bank cutting its key interest rate from 21 to 14.5 percent.
A VAT increase from 20 to 22 percent has hit consumers, while food and basic goods prices have risen.
Ukrainian drone attacks are increasingly targeting Russian export infrastructure, including sites over 2,000 km from the border.
In a single week in late March and early April, 1,904 drones were shot down over Russian territory.