Russia Watcher
@russiawatcher.bsky.social
The Russia Watcher is a daily tracking survey of Russian public opinion, run by political scientists from the Department of Politics at Princeton University. Learn more at http://russiawatcher.com.
Support for the “special military operation” in Russia is also at its lowest point in a year, although it’s hard to tell if this is a new trend or an aberration.
November 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Support for the “special military operation” in Russia is also at its lowest point in a year, although it’s hard to tell if this is a new trend or an aberration.
Interestingly, we observed a notable drop in Putin approval within our daily surveys of the Russian public during the month of October. Given that Putin approval has been highly stable for years, per our data, this may be a notable finding. Any ideas as to what may underly this shift?
November 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Interestingly, we observed a notable drop in Putin approval within our daily surveys of the Russian public during the month of October. Given that Putin approval has been highly stable for years, per our data, this may be a notable finding. Any ideas as to what may underly this shift?
In Russia, approval of Trump increased significantly leading up to and after the “Alaska Summit.” But in the past month, disapproval has crept back up to the level it was when Trump took office.
October 3, 2025 at 9:27 AM
In Russia, approval of Trump increased significantly leading up to and after the “Alaska Summit.” But in the past month, disapproval has crept back up to the level it was when Trump took office.
As talk of negotiations continues, ordinary Russians remain uncompromising. Around 40% say that troops should withdraw only after annexing part of Ukraine & regime change (i.e., ousting Zelensky). Only 10% support an unconditional, immediate withdrawal.
September 8, 2025 at 8:45 AM
As talk of negotiations continues, ordinary Russians remain uncompromising. Around 40% say that troops should withdraw only after annexing part of Ukraine & regime change (i.e., ousting Zelensky). Only 10% support an unconditional, immediate withdrawal.
How has Russian public opinion shifted in the wake of the "Alaska Summit," which took place on August 15. One notable change: approval of Donald Trump has increased considerably from its all-time low at the beginning of the month.
August 25, 2025 at 7:37 PM
How has Russian public opinion shifted in the wake of the "Alaska Summit," which took place on August 15. One notable change: approval of Donald Trump has increased considerably from its all-time low at the beginning of the month.
But this doesn't mean Russians are willing to give up much. Our data show that as approval for negotiations has been going up, willingness to compromise has been going down: the % who say they want to annex part of Ukraine & achieve regime change has grown since February 2025. 4/
August 13, 2025 at 6:28 PM
But this doesn't mean Russians are willing to give up much. Our data show that as approval for negotiations has been going up, willingness to compromise has been going down: the % who say they want to annex part of Ukraine & achieve regime change has grown since February 2025. 4/
Approval of negotiations also reached a peak in early August, with nearly 40% of Russians expressing strong approval of negotiations and another 25% saying they somewhat approve. 3/
August 13, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Approval of negotiations also reached a peak in early August, with nearly 40% of Russians expressing strong approval of negotiations and another 25% saying they somewhat approve. 3/
Just two days before the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska, disapproval of Trump has reached its peak in Russia, with nearly 40% of Russians saying they strongly disapprove of him and another 25% saying they somewhat disapprove. 1/
August 13, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Just two days before the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska, disapproval of Trump has reached its peak in Russia, with nearly 40% of Russians saying they strongly disapprove of him and another 25% saying they somewhat disapprove. 1/
Meanwhile, approval of negotiations is also at an all-time high, with a sizable majority expressing support. This is probably because negotiations seem increasingly likely to occur, and also (we suspect) because Russians believe they are in a good negotiating position.
July 29, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Meanwhile, approval of negotiations is also at an all-time high, with a sizable majority expressing support. This is probably because negotiations seem increasingly likely to occur, and also (we suspect) because Russians believe they are in a good negotiating position.
Trump’s rating in Russia just keeps going down… this is the lowest approval rating we’ve ever recorded as part of Russia Watcher. (We started tracking this stat daily in April 2024.)
July 29, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Trump’s rating in Russia just keeps going down… this is the lowest approval rating we’ve ever recorded as part of Russia Watcher. (We started tracking this stat daily in April 2024.)
However, Trump approval is still much higher than Biden approval was; less than 10% of Russians said they approved of the former US president before Trump took office.
July 9, 2025 at 10:13 AM
However, Trump approval is still much higher than Biden approval was; less than 10% of Russians said they approved of the former US president before Trump took office.
Approval of Donald Trump among Russians is now at the lowest level since fall 2024. After major upticks in approval in early February and early May, approval of the US president has been steadily eroding. Now, around 60% of our respondents say they disapprove of Trump, and only about 20% approve.
July 9, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Approval of Donald Trump among Russians is now at the lowest level since fall 2024. After major upticks in approval in early February and early May, approval of the US president has been steadily eroding. Now, around 60% of our respondents say they disapprove of Trump, and only about 20% approve.
How do Russians view the economic effects of the war against 🇺🇦? On the one hand, people have become increasingly dissatisfied w/ their personal financial situations in the last 2 months. On the other hand, worry about the economic consequences of the war hasn't changed much.
June 24, 2025 at 11:16 AM
How do Russians view the economic effects of the war against 🇺🇦? On the one hand, people have become increasingly dissatisfied w/ their personal financial situations in the last 2 months. On the other hand, worry about the economic consequences of the war hasn't changed much.
At the same time, most Russians don't think that the war poses a serious threat to them personally. In fact, threat perceptions have actually decreased somewhat over the past ~1.5 months.
June 17, 2025 at 4:04 PM
At the same time, most Russians don't think that the war poses a serious threat to them personally. In fact, threat perceptions have actually decreased somewhat over the past ~1.5 months.
Approval of negotiations continues to grow in Russia, while self-reported support for the war ('special military operation') remains high and stable.
June 17, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Approval of negotiations continues to grow in Russia, while self-reported support for the war ('special military operation') remains high and stable.
Meanwhile, perceptions of the success of the SMO have returned to level they were at before the new year after an increase from February to early May. 40% of Russians think the SMO is being conducted somewhat successfully, but only 20% think it's very successful. 5/
June 4, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Meanwhile, perceptions of the success of the SMO have returned to level they were at before the new year after an increase from February to early May. 40% of Russians think the SMO is being conducted somewhat successfully, but only 20% think it's very successful. 5/
It's worth noting that nominal support for the so-called 'special military operation' has remained relatively unchanged over the same time period. Over 60% of Russians say they strongly or somewhat support the SMO, and ~20-25% oppose it (~10% say they don't know). 2/
June 4, 2025 at 8:22 AM
It's worth noting that nominal support for the so-called 'special military operation' has remained relatively unchanged over the same time period. Over 60% of Russians say they strongly or somewhat support the SMO, and ~20-25% oppose it (~10% say they don't know). 2/
Despite Vladimir Putin's apparent hesitation to negotiate with Ukraine, approval of negotiations toward a ceasefire are at an all-time high in Russia. Over 30% of our respondents in Russia express strong support and ~25% express weak support. 1/
June 4, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Despite Vladimir Putin's apparent hesitation to negotiate with Ukraine, approval of negotiations toward a ceasefire are at an all-time high in Russia. Over 30% of our respondents in Russia express strong support and ~25% express weak support. 1/
Approval of bombing Ukrainian cities has also fluctuated considerably over time, especially since late February.
May 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Approval of bombing Ukrainian cities has also fluctuated considerably over time, especially since late February.
Where we have seen considerable fluctuation - especially since late January, when Donald Trump was elected president in the USA - is approval of negotiations to end the war.
May 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Where we have seen considerable fluctuation - especially since late January, when Donald Trump was elected president in the USA - is approval of negotiations to end the war.
Meanwhile, Putin approval - as always - remains virtually unchanged, with perhaps a slight dip over the past couple of weeks.
May 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Meanwhile, Putin approval - as always - remains virtually unchanged, with perhaps a slight dip over the past couple of weeks.
Support for the war in Ukraine remained fairly steady over the past 6 months, also we did see what may be a slight downturn in early May.
May 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Support for the war in Ukraine remained fairly steady over the past 6 months, also we did see what may be a slight downturn in early May.
For the third year in a row, we asked our Russian respondents how great a contribution various Allied countries made to victory in WWII. Results have been fairly stable. What's striking is how the vast majority of Russians perceive contributions of other Allies as relatively minor.
May 15, 2025 at 3:45 PM
For the third year in a row, we asked our Russian respondents how great a contribution various Allied countries made to victory in WWII. Results have been fairly stable. What's striking is how the vast majority of Russians perceive contributions of other Allies as relatively minor.
But this doesn't necessarily mean Russians are more supportive of peaceful tactics overall: approval of bombing Ukrainian cities as a military tactic has also increased steadily since early March.
May 7, 2025 at 3:31 AM
But this doesn't necessarily mean Russians are more supportive of peaceful tactics overall: approval of bombing Ukrainian cities as a military tactic has also increased steadily since early March.
Striking increase in approval of negotiations in Russia over the past few weeks: well over 50% now favor negotiations, with a plurality expressing strong support. Uncertainty has declined markedly.
May 7, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Striking increase in approval of negotiations in Russia over the past few weeks: well over 50% now favor negotiations, with a plurality expressing strong support. Uncertainty has declined markedly.