#Kanal13 #likekanal13 #subscribekanal13 #warinukraine
Russian leader Vladimir Putin issued another round of reassuring statements to Russians. He tried to convince them that all economic problems are temporary, and that Russia, in his words, is "eternal." He then immediately attempted to shift responsibility for the numerous crises onto State Duma deputies. But judging by the dictator’s steadily declining approval ratings, Russians don’t place much faith in these statements. FREEDOM TV investigated how the Kremlin is trying to salvage its master’s reputation and what sacrifices it will require. At a meeting of the Council of Legislators in St. Petersburg, Putin called on deputies to "not obsess" over bans and restrictions, which, according to the dictator, "slow down development." He neglected to mention that it was not the State Duma, but he and the FSB, who were initiating these bans and restrictions. For example, the security forces are responsible for blocking internet resources, according to The Bell. And although the dictator called on parliamentarians to address economic problems, it’s clear that the main and only cause of the systemic crisis is Russia’s war against Ukraine.
"It’s now clear to most of the population that the decline in living standards they experience every day has an author. It’s the man on whom everything in Russia depends today—Vladimir Putin. He and the war he unleashed against Ukraine," says Olga Kurnosova, Secretary of the Russian Opposition Forum in Support of Ukraine. According to the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM), Putin’s approval rating has been declining for the seventh week in a row. In mid-April, it fell to 65.6 percent, the lowest level since before the war. True, as the Washington Post notes , it’s difficult to gauge the real mood in an authoritarian state, as the opposition has either been sent to prison camps or expelled from the country, and criticism of Russia’s war against Ukraine is a criminal offense. But the fact that even VTsIOM notes a decline in trust in the dictator indicates disillusionment and fatigue in society. Or perhaps even a struggle within the Kremlin itself, as analysts at the Institute for the Study of War suggest. "Putin’s declining support comes amid the Kremlin’s expanding efforts to censor the Russian internet and rising war casualties. Kremlin groups opposed to new censorship restrictions may allow or encourage state polling agencies to publish data on declining ratings in order to pressure Putin to take a stand against factions that support the restrictions," the ISW report states.
Internet blocking has already caused significant losses for Russian companies. The number of complaints is growing not only in the regions but also in central Russian cities. For example, as soon as Putin arrived in St. Petersburg for a meeting of the Council of Legislators, mobile internet was immediately shut down. Russian public groups are reporting that VPNs are also unavailable. Incidentally, according to The Economist, the number of VPN app downloads in Russia has increased 14-fold: from March 2025 to March 2026, Google Play recorded 35.7 million downloads. The Kremlin attributes internet restrictions to security concerns and the fight against terrorism. VPNs have been declared harmful and hostile. This is likely why they will charge a fee for their use in Russia. "Mobile operators in Russia will begin charging for VPN use if monthly traffic exceeds 15 GB—the new rules could come into effect on May 1. If this happens, Russia will become the first country in the world where citizens will be required to pay operators for VPN use," The Economist reported. Putin is trying to shift responsibility for the country’s problems to anyone: parliamentarians, officials, or even the Russian people themselves. Following a series of strikes on the Tuapse oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai, followed by massive fires and oil rains, on April 28, the dictator’s press secretary, Peskov, mentioned for the first time the need to clean up the aftermath of the attacks. The Kremlin has yet to respond to numerous appeals from Tuapse residents. "Putin simply doesn’t want to be associated with this. We know he’s afraid of all losses; he doesn’t comment on any catastrophes, any stalemates that occur in Russia immediately, instantly. He always takes a short break. The crisis has passed, the dust has settled, and he’s back and commenting on it. That’s why I think this is a rather difficult and rather scary time for the regime," notes Dmitry Elovsky, political commentator and host of the Khodorkovsky Live channel. While Kremlin polling is untenable, the dynamics of Russian internet search queries can serve as a marker of sentiment in Russia.
