Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that his country’s intelligence has obtained confidential documents that reach Russian President Vladimir Putin’s desk. Zelensky stated that these reports provide insights into the internal situation in Russia, indicating a growing trend of dissatisfaction among the Russian populace.
According to Zelensky, the documents suggest that the so-called “forecast indicators of discontent” among Russians are expected to continue increasing. He noted that Putin is being conditioned to accept that this discontent will not plateau before the parliamentary elections scheduled for September.
Additionally, Zelensky highlighted a persistent decline in support for Putin’s ruling party, necessitating greater electoral fraud to maintain their standing. The reports also indicate a significant rise in protest sentiments across various Russian regions.
The president mentioned that these assessments do not yet account for potential events in June, July, and August, which could further influence the situation in Russia.
On May 29, the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM), a state-owned entity, reported a decrease in Putin’s approval rating by 1.9 percentage points from the previous week, bringing it to 67.5%. Earlier in May, VTsIOM had adjusted its polling methodology to include in-person interviews, which temporarily boosted Putin’s approval to 66.8%.
VTsIOM releases its weekly ratings every Friday at 10:00 AM Moscow time, but the results were notably absent on May 1 and the following workday after the extended holiday. This absence followed a streak of seven consecutive weeks of declining ratings for Putin.
In the latest survey, 73.7% of respondents expressed trust in Putin, marking a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the prior week. Support for the ruling party, United Russia, also fell by 0.4 percentage points to 32.7%.
According to the channel “Current Time,” analysts have previously linked the decline in Putin’s ratings to public dissatisfaction over internet censorship and escalating economic issues. The Kremlin has not publicly addressed the drop in the president’s approval ratings.
Ukrainian intelligence reports indicate a growing discontent among Russians, particularly ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Recent polling data shows a decline in support for President Putin and his ruling party, reflecting potential unrest within the country.