What's Happening in Russia? A Snapshot

• Putin's approval ratings have fallen to their lowest level since the invasion of Ukraine began.

• Ukrainian strikes on oil infrastructure are raising fears of fuel shortages.

• Long queues are appearing at some petrol stations as Russians rush to fill up.

• Crimea remains under sustained Ukrainian attack, disrupting daily life.

• Tourism to the peninsula has collapsed amid constant air raid alerts.

• Putin has promised "free and democratic" elections ahead of September's State Duma vote.

Putin Under Pressure As Fuel Fears Grow And Support Slips

Vladimir Putin has attempted to project confidence after disappearing from public view for two days, but the Russian leader is facing mounting pressure as Ukraine's strikes increasingly hit home. Speaking at the ruling United Russia Party conference after private talks with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Putin admitted Russia was passing through a "difficult period" before insisting September's parliamentary elections would be "open and free" despite widespread criticism of the Kremlin's democratic record.

The carefully staged appearance comes as Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, fuel depots and pipelines raise fears of petrol shortages across Russia, with reports of queues forming at filling stations. At the same time, fresh polling suggests public confidence in Putin is slipping.

Trust in the president has fallen to its lowest level

According to Russia's own pro-government polling agency, trust in the president has fallen to its lowest level since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, while dissatisfaction with both the Kremlin and the Russian government continues to climb. Analysts say repeated Ukrainian drone strikes, disruption to daily life and growing concern over Russia's economy are beginning to undermine the image of stability that Putin has spent years cultivating. With military losses continuing to mount and economic pressure intensifying, the Kremlin appears increasingly determined to reassure voters ahead of September's elections—even as the challenges facing Russia become harder to conceal.

Putin Under Pressure As Fuel Fears Grow And Support Slips

Vladimir Putin has attempted to project confidence after disappearing from public view for two days, but the Russian leader is facing mounting pressure as Ukraine's strikes increasingly hit home. Speaking at the ruling United Russia Party conference after private talks with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Putin admitted Russia was passing through a "difficult period" as Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries, fuel depots and pipelines fuel fears of shortages, with reports of queues forming at petrol stations across parts of Russia.

'Free Elections' Claim Amid Growing Discontent

Despite the mounting crisis, Putin insisted September's State Duma elections would be "open and free" and urged ruling party candidates to spend more time listening to ordinary Russians. His comments came as fresh polling from Russia's own state-backed survey agency suggested public confidence in the Kremlin has fallen to its lowest level since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Trust in Putin and his government has slipped as repeated Ukrainian drone strikes disrupt daily life, while international democracy watchdogs continue to rank Russia among the world's least free political systems. With military losses mounting, economic pressure increasing and public frustration beginning to show, the Kremlin appears eager to project stability—even as the challenges facing Putin become harder to hide.

Crimea tourism is down

• Hotel bookings have reportedly fallen sharply, with some reports saying early summer bookings are down by around 50%.

• Russian tourists are cancelling holidays because they're worried about getting stranded by fuel shortages and repeated drone attacks.

• Some hotels even tried offering free petrol to attract visitors before running out of fuel themselves.

Air raid alerts Now a Part of daily life

• Air raid alerts have become routine across Sevastopol and other parts of Crimea.

• Residents are dealing with power cuts, fuel shortages and repeated disruption to transport.

• Russian-installed authorities have even declared a state of emergency because of the impact on energy supplies and the local economy.

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The wheels, if not coming off the regime, certainly seem to be a bit wobbly!

Still it will all be sorted when Putin wins September's "open and free" elections by a handsome margin, as can only be expected.

NB: if you are in Moscow prior to the election do try to avoid standing under the windows of the parliament building, or indeed any opposition party offices!

Putin should be replaced by a hardliner.

21 hours ago, JAG said:

The wheels, if not coming off the regime, certainly seem to be a bit wobbly!

Still it will all be sorted when Putin wins September's "open and free" elections by a handsome margin, as can only be expected.

NB: if you are in Moscow prior to the election do try to avoid standing under the windows of the parliament building, or indeed any opposition party offices!

Right, the defenestrations of Moscow!

For a 73 year-old, Putin is surprisingly physically strong and mentally lucid. But even he must be feeling tired of leadership amidst the chaos he initiated in Ukraine.

I don't know if he has chosen a successor but wouldn't be surprised if he was thinking of retiring.

On 6/29/2026 at 1:21 PM, Social Media said:

Hotel bookings have reportedly fallen sharply, with some reports saying early summer bookings are down by around 50%.

Maybe the hotels should consider bookings from Ukrainian soldiers as they will certainly pass through Crimea.

Putin has really screwed up and made an incredible miscalculation with the invasion of Ukraine. He deserves all the pain that can be inflicted upon him.

One may ask why has Putin chosen this moment to make his move on Ukraine? As many have pointed out, Russia is an objectively weak state — “Upper Volta with nuclear weapons,” as someone once quipped — with a nominal G.D.P. smaller than that of South Korea. Outside of energy, minerals and second-rate military equipment, it produces almost nothing that outsiders want: no Russian iPhone, Lexus or “Fauda.” If it were not for the minerals, oil and natural gas, I believe Russia would be a highly irrelevant state. Sure, it had alot of culture. Had. What have it's contributions been since the middle of the 20th century?

Putin’s problem with Ukraine, starting with the Maidan uprising of 2014, is that Ukrainians want nothing to do with him. He is despised. And for good reason. If he were a Disney character, he’d be Rapunzel’s mother. But, he is not a Disney character, which makes him a pathetic, aggressive, serial killing despot dictator, who appears to be targeting women and children in his latest escapade, and further walk into the world of darkness. 

This original post actually understates the reality, there are fuel shortages across 90% of Russia, with some oblasts like Crimea, having no fuel available to the public. Diesel is so expensive that many farmers cannot afford to harvest cereal and other grain crops - the selling price will not pay for the diesel. Water shortages. Rail system becoming to collapse due to drone strikes on trains, while all the maintenance staff have been sent to the front. Russian soldiers are on a one way trip to the front - many are killed or injured before they get there; no medics, few ambulances, if you cannot walk you are left to die. This is a war of attrition at an unseen level.

Meanwhile, the Russian occupied areas of Luhansk and Donetsk have become desolate wastelands - infrastructure degrading, nothing repaired. pollution from mines poisoning much of the water, war damage everywhere. There are 14,000 teacher vacancies there, which Russia wants to fill with Russian citizens, but conditions are so bad no-one will take the jobs.

As for tourists in Crimea - the last of them left last month. There may be some bookings, but no planes, no ships, no trains and no fuel for cars or buses. Food and water also running out.

Sure, the war will go on for some more months, hundred's of thousands will die on both sides, but Russia can no longer advance - drones destroy anything that moves. Putin has 2 options - ceasefire or go nuclear...