Russian attitudes toward Putin worsen due to Ukrainian army's operation in Kursk region
Russian President Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
Since the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched an operation in the Kursk region two weeks ago, public sentiment toward President Vladimir Putin among Russians has deteriorated. This is according to an analysis of social media and other online posts, reports The New York Times.
Citing an analysis by FilterLabs AI, The New York Times reports that many online posts claim the Ukrainian Armed Forces' operation in the Kursk region is a failure of the Russian government, particularly of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Given the difficulty of accurately gauging public opinion in Russia, FilterLabs monitors social media comments, online posts, and news websites, using a computer model to analyze sentiments expressed by ordinary Russians.
The analysis indicates that positive sentiment towards Putin began to wane last year, particularly after the military uprising led by Wagner Group's head, Yevgeny Prigozhin. However, the shift in attitudes became more pronounced when Ukraine launched its operation in the Kursk region.
"Putin’s response to the incursion was seen as inadequate at best and insulting at worst," said Jonathan Teubner, the chief executive of FilterLabs.
Sentiment towards the Russian president remains more positive in Moscow, where the government exerts tighter control over the media and public discourse. However, even in the capital, opinions of Putin have deteriorated, albeit not as rapidly as in other parts of the country. The analysis shows growing disillusionment with the Kremlin in Russia's more remote regions.
American officials have cautioned that it's too early to determine whether the damage to Putin's reputation will be lasting. They noted that Putin's standing in Russia quickly rebounded after Prigozhin ended the uprising, and the Russian leader consistently demonstrated an ability to manipulate public opinion about himself.
However, a sustained loss of popularity could complicate the Kremlin's ability to wage war in Ukraine. Sentiment toward Putin has sharply declined in the very regions of Russia where the Kremlin focuses its military recruitment efforts. The Kremlin’s recruitment strategy depends on its ability to manage perceptions of the war.
"If Putin’s prestige and popularity fall in these key regions (especially if Russians feel that the war is going badly), the Kremlin may find it more difficult to fill its military ranks," the FilterLabs analysis noted.
The Kremlin continues to influence how national Russian media cover the war, with only a few outlets releasing significant materials. However, regional news outlets are less inclined to embellish the news.
It is noteworthy that according to a report by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, on August 22, one more settlement in Russia came under Ukrainian control.
Previously, It was reported that US policy permits Ukraine to carry out strikes on the territory of Russia’s Kursk region.
