Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited six cities in less than three weeks in an effort to boost his declining popularity, analysts say. Early in the year, the Russian leader rarely left Moscow, likely due to fears of an assassination attempt.
Data from the Public Opinion Foundation, a sociological service linked to the Kremlin, shows Putin's approval rating fell to 66 percent in July. That figure marks a historical low since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, though critics contend his actual support is lower.
City preparation and security measures
Putin recently visited Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia. Ahead of his arrival on Tuesday, local workers hastily paved roads, repaired sidewalks, and trimmed grass.
A resident posted on social media that officials practically rebuilt the city in three days, adding that if Putin visited more often, the city might look completely new within a year. Similar trips to the Siberian cities of Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk saw gasoline prices fall by apparent official order, only to rise sharply after Putin left.
Residents in Novosibirsk reported on Telegram that people living in houses and student dormitories along the motorcade route were forbidden from approaching windows or using electronic devices. Local authorities also introduced restrictions on electric scooters.
Public opinion and opposition ban
Putin's Siberian trip occurred less than 24 hours after Russia's Supreme Court banned Yabloko, the nation's oldest existing liberal party, from participating in parliamentary elections next month. Just days earlier, an election commission loyal to the Kremlin had officially cleared the party to run.
Yabloko ran on the slogan For Peace and Freedom as the only party with an anti-war platform. Russian opposition journalist and writer Mikhail Fishman said the sudden reversal indicates Putin is uncertain about public support for the war.
According to the Levada Center, an independent Moscow research organization labeled a foreign agent by the Kremlin, 66 percent of Russians claim to support the war. However, 62 percent favor beginning peace negotiations, only 28 percent support continuing combat, and one in five Russians says they do not follow war news at all.
Elections and military escalation
While Putin's approval remains high compared with Western leaders, Russia tolerates no real opposition and national media are controlled by the Kremlin. The Kremlin tracks public opinion closely, even though elections are usually rigged for the ruling party and security services crush dissent.
Criticism of the war carries risk of criminal prosecution, and poll respondents rarely reveal true feelings to strangers. Over recent months, at least 23 politicians were barred from the parliamentary elections, often accused of displaying extremist or Nazi symbols. In 15 cases, the charge involved images linked to Alexei Navalny, who associates say was killed by his state, while others were punished for posting links to banned platforms Instagram and Facebook. The vast majority of barred candidates were linked to Yabloko.
Meanwhile, the war is increasingly felt inside Russia as Ukrainian drone and missile strikes cause fuel shortages, internet outages, and human casualties. Newsweek reported that intensified Russian missile strikes on Ukraine could signal plans for a more intense phase or escalation, with experts noting scenarios ranging from tactical nuclear strikes to drafting hundreds of thousands of citizens to capture Donbas.
