Putin's Falling Approval: Analyzing the Decline

Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval ratings have dipped for the seventh consecutive week, now standing at 65.6%, the lowest since the Ukraine invasion began in February 2022, reports state pollster VTsIOM.

Putin, the predominant figure in Russian politics since his appointment as acting president eight years post-Soviet Union collapse, faces a potential historical milestone. If he completes his current term, he will surpass Josef Stalin to become Russia's longest-serving leader since Empress Catherine the Great.

Economic contractions and restrictions on internet freedoms have contributed to this decline, challenging Putin's widespread support, which once soared post-Ukraine invasion. Public discourse around true sentiments remains intensely debated amid ongoing state censorship.

(With inputs from agencies.)