Gallup poll finds over half of Russians pessimistic for first time in 20 years

Nadia Massih announced the appointment of Benedict Vigers, Senior Global News Writer at Gallup, to the organization’s research team. Vigers, who has overseen Gallup’s polling operations for more than twenty years, will focus on interpreting the firm’s latest findings on public attitudes in Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Gallup’s newest survey data contradict earlier assumptions that Russian citizens have largely remained supportive of the state despite sanctions and the costs of the conflict. The research shows a simultaneous decline across several key indicators: economic outlook, trust in major state institutions, confidence in the military, belief in the fairness of elections, and perceptions of media freedom. According to Vigers, the pattern signals not only a weakening of economic sentiment but also a broader psychological turning point after a period in which public confidence had been unexpectedly resilient. The findings suggest a shift in the Russian populace’s overall attitude toward the government and its policies.