Putin's Approval Rating at 83% After Ukraine Invasion: "Rallying Around the Leader"

Support Rate Rises Instead as Western Sanctions Gain Prominence

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia. / Moscow AP=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Despite facing sanctions and criticism from Western countries due to the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin's domestic approval rating has reportedly risen significantly. Analysts suggest that amid unprecedented sanctions against the country, there is a strong tendency for unity centered around the leader.

According to foreign media reports including The New York Times (NYT) on the 31st (local time), the Russian polling agency Levada Center announced that President Putin's approval rating reached 83% on that day.

This marks a 14 percentage point increase from 69% in January before the invasion of Ukraine, representing the highest level of approval in recent years, NYT reported.

The survey was conducted from the 24th to the 30th of last month, targeting 1,632 Russian citizens.

While some believe that Russian polls do not accurately reflect the actual public opinion, NYT explained that they serve as a tool to glimpse the people's sentiments.

Denis Volkov, director of Levada, analyzed this poll by stating that the feelings of "shock and confusion" experienced by many Russians following the February 24 invasion of Ukraine have shifted to a belief that they must unite around their leader as Russia is encircled by Western countries.

Volkov said, "The confrontation with the West has united Russians," adding that some respondents said, "They did not support President Putin before, but now is the time to support him."

He also analyzed, "There seems to be an underlying thought that 'everyone in the international community is against us. If President Putin does not protect us, we will be devoured alive.'"

Volkov further compared Russia's current situation to the rise in Putin's approval rating during the 2014 annexation of Crimea, stating, "This situation is much more serious and uncertain when it will end, so the public sentiment is much darker."