Russia-Ukraine War — 2026-04-14

Kremlin Slows Internet Crackdown as Restrictions Drive Putins Approval to Lowest Since 2022 Invasion

Bloomberg reported that the Kremlin is decelerating internet restrictions, particularly against Telegram, after Putin's approval rating fell to 67.8% in early April, the lowest since the full-scale invasion. The VCIOM poll showed a 2.3-point drop in two weeks. The backlash complicates Kremlin messaging ahead of September parliamentary elections and undermines the official narrative of public unity behind the war. The climbdown is an unusual instance where domestic digital policy directly threatens regime stability metrics.

Analysis
A 2.3-point approval drop in two weeks is significant by Russian polling standards, where VCIOM's methodology has historically skewed toward regime-favorable results. The Kremlin's decision to reverse course on Telegram restrictions indicates the regime is prioritizing legitimacy metrics over information control ahead of September parliamentary elections, a rare instance where domestic pressure has produced a measurable policy reversal.

2 sources

Russia Slows Internet Curbs as Voter Anger Hits Putin Rating - Bloomberg
Kremlin fears rating decline due to internet restrictions, Bloomberg says - Ukrainska Pravda