13/05/2026
Will the decline of Putin’s approval rating affect the war against Ukraine?
When Vladimir Putin announced the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine (a “special military operation” how Russian propaganda calls it), only a handful of people in Russia had seriously anticipated this decision, and even fewer knew of it with certainty. It came as a shock to nearly everyone within the Russian political and economic elite, and very few embraced it enthusiastically. Nevertheless, the majority accepted the war and supported it, whether openly or passively. Four years of financing the war and resisting external economic and political pressures have dramatically altered the composition and power dynamics of Russia’s ruling class, making it increasingly militarized, loyal, and dependent on the state.
The protracted nature of the conflict and its heavy casualties demanded sustained support from the population. State media propaganda alone was no longer sufficient, prompting the introduction of “military-patriotic” education programs in schools, coupled with intensified repression of alternative or critical opinions and a de facto ban on independent civil society organizations and non-government-controlled media. Political opposition has all but ceased to exist, and the number of political prisoners has skyrocketed.
Western sanctions have severely impacted the Russian economy, but it has largely managed to reorient itself toward the “East,” primarily China. Some sectors have even shown growth, largely driven by the surge in military-industrial production, indicating that the new economic model is highly dependent on the continuation of the war. Meanwhile, the civil sector has steadily declined, affecting the welfare of the population and resulting in lower living standards.
This panel will examine how four years of war have reshaped daily life inside Russia.
When: Tuesday 26 May 18:00
Where: International Institute for Peace (IIP)
Möllwaldplatz 5 / Top 7 Vienna 1040
Language: English
Admission: free, please register via the link https://www.iipvienna.com/event-calendar/2026/05/26/behind-closed-borders-the-domestic-consequences-of-russias-war1
Photos: Alyona Malkovskaya "Empire Z" for Dialogbüro Vienna's Project "After February 24".
