The mood of Russians has been improving for the second month: two thirds are in a normal state, one in five is in a great mood (maximum values). The majority of respondents believe that the country is moving in the right direction, almost one in five – in the wrong direction. Those who believe that things are going in the right direction in the country most often have in mind growing economy and import substitution, proper domestic and foreign policy (social and economic development, the special military operation). Those who believe that the country is moving along the wrong path explain their point of view by continuing the SVO and there are a lot of victims in conflict, economic (inflation, low pensions/salaries, unemployment) and political (irremovability of power, wrong policies, corruption) problems. Positive assessments prevail with regard to the authorities, in comparison with the measurements of the previous months the situation has not changed much. The top ten politicians trusted by the respondents have not changed much, most of all they trust V. Putin, M. Mishustin, S. Lavrov. If elections to the State Duma were held this Sunday, the United Russia party would receive more than half of the votes, the LDPR — 14%, the Communist Party — 10%, the New People – 6%, the Just Russia – 5%. If presidential elections were held this weekend, V. Putin would win the majority of votes, other politicians were mentioned by less than 1% of respondents.

The mood of Russians has been improving for the second month in a row: the proportion of respondents who say they are in a good mood has increased to a fifth (20%, an increase of 8 percentage points since January 2025), the proportion of those who experience tension, irritation, fear, and melancholy has decreased to 16% (a decrease of 5 percentage points since January 2025), but the majority The respondents are still in a normal, even state (63%, a decrease of 5 percentage points since February 2025).

The respondents under 39 years of age (30%), more affluent respondents (25% among those who can afford durable goods), those who say that their family’s financial situation has improved over the past year (37%), those who believe that things in the country are going in the right direction (23%), those who approve of Putin’s performance as president (22%), and those who believe that the special operation has done Russia more good (25%) are the most likely to talk about a good mood.

Respondents aged 55 and older (67%), Muscovites (73%), those who believe that things in the country are going in the right direction (65%), those who approve of Putin’s performance as president (63%), those respondents who say that their family’s financial situation has remained unchanged (69%), and those who support the actions of the Russian military in Ukraine (64%) are more likely to say that they are in a normal, even state of mind.

The respondents who feel tension, irritation, fear, and longing most often are the elderly (20% of those aged 55 and older), less well-off respondents (34% among those who barely have enough to eat), those respondents who say that the financial situation of their family has deteriorated over the past year (33%), those who believe that things in the country are going in the wrong direction (35%), those who do not approve of V. Putin’s activities as president (34%), those who do not support the actions of the Russian military in Ukraine (27%), those who believe that the special operation has brought more harm to Russia (23%).

After a slight increase in recent months, the share of Russians who believe that things in the country are going in the right direction has decreased to 69% (a decrease of 5 percentage points). 17% of respondents state the opposite, and another 15% of respondents found it difficult to answer.

The fact that things in the country are going in the right direction was stated more often by men (72%), older respondents (75% among those aged 55 and older), more affluent respondents (74% among those who can afford durable goods), those who say their family’s financial situation has improved over the past year (82%), Muscovites (73%), TV viewers (80%), those who approve of V. Putin’s activities (77%), and those who believe that the special operation has brought more benefits to Russia (89%).

Respondents in the age groups 25-39 years old, 40-54 years old (20% and 19%), less well-off respondents (59% among those who barely have enough for food), and those who spoke about the deterioration of the family’s financial situation over the past year (32%), residents of Moscow and cities with populations of more than 500,000 people (19% and 20%), respondents who trust YouTube channels as a source of information (38%), those who disapprove of the activities of the current president (76%), and also do not support the actions of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine (21%) and believes that the special operation has caused more harm to Russia (30%).

Those who believe that things in the country are going in the right direction, most often mean “growing economy, import substitution” – 24%, “the right policy (internal and external).” – 21%, “social development and support” – 19%, “We are / afraid for peace/ defending/ a truce” – 16%, “welfare growth/ salaries/ there is work/ everything is in the shops/ we are not hungry” – 12%, “I trust Putin, a good leader” – 10%.

Those who believe that the country is on the wrong path were more likely to talk about “dragging on the conflict, a lot of people die, many victims” – 37%, “rising prices/ impoverishment of the people/ small pensions and salaries/ low standard of living/ inflation” – 30%, “economic decline/unemployment” – 17%, “the irremovability of power/ the need to change state policy/the wrong government/corruption” – 11%.

The level of approval of the work of V. Putin as president has remained virtually unchanged over the past six months and stands at 87%, while the share of those who disapprove of the current president’s activities remains unchanged at 11%.

The level of approval of the work of V. Putin is higher among the more affluent respondents (90% among those who can afford durable goods), those who talk about the improvement of the family’s financial situation over the past year (96%), those who trust television as a source of information (96%), those who believe that things are going well in the country they are going in the right direction (97%), those who support the actions of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine (92%) and believe that conducting a special operation brought Russia more benefits (96%).

The level of disapproval of the work of V. Putin is higher among less well-off respondents (14% among those who barely have enough to eat), those who say that their family’s financial situation has worsened over the past year (23%), those who trust YouTube channels as a source of information (28%), those who believe that things are going well in the country, they are following the wrong path (49%), those who do not support the actions of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine (40%), and also believe that peace negotiations should now proceed rather than continuing military operations (13%) and believe that conducting a special operation has brought more harm to Russia (21%).

The level of approval of M. Mishustin as Prime Minister has not changed – 76%, with 17% of respondents disapproving of his activities.

75% of respondents approve of the work of the Russian government, 21% of respondents disapprove.

About two thirds of the respondents approve of the work of the lower house of parliament (62%), and a third of the respondents disapprove (31%).

In March, the level of approval of the governors decreased slightly to 68% (a decrease of 5 percentage points), while the level of disapproval increased to 24% (an increase of 3 percentage points).

The top ten most trusted politicians have not changed (data from an open question is provided, when respondents were asked to name several politicians they most trusted on their own, no hint options were offered).

The level of trust in Vladimir Putin remains virtually unchanged, in April 2025 it was 47%. One in five trusts Mikhail Mishustin and Sergey Lavrov: 20% and 19%, respectively. Andrey Belousov’s level of trust decreased slightly to 3% (a decrease of 5 percentage points since November 2024). 3% of respondents say they trust Sergei Sobyanin, Dmitry Medvedev, Dmitry Peskov and Vyacheslav Volodin. 2% trust Gennady Zyuganov and Valentina Matvienko.

Also, 1% of respondents mentioned Sergei Shoigu, Sergei Mironov, Maria Zakharova, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Leonid Slutsky, Vladimir Solovyov, Radiy Khabirov, Alexander Bastrykin, Alexander Lukashenko, Igor Kobzev and Rustam Minnikhanov.

The level of support for United Russia and New People remained virtually unchanged compared to October 2024 and amounted to 42% and 4% of all respondents. The ratings of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Just Russia are gradually recovering after a decline last year (10% and 4%, respectively). The level of support for the Communist Party decreased slightly to 8%.

In terms of those who decided on the choice of the party, the rating of United Russia in February 2025 was 58%, the LDPR – 13%, the Communist Party – 12%. The electoral ratings of the “New People” and the Just Russia are at the level of 6% and 5%, respectively.

According to the open question, if the presidential election were held next Sunday, the majority of respondents would vote for V. Putin – 62%. G. Zyuganov, M. Mishustin, D. Medvedev, S. Lavrov, V. Davankov, A. Belousov, L. Slutsky and S. Mironov would have scored significantly less – less than 1%.

At the same time, V. Putin’s electoral rating (according to this open question) decreased compared to the previous survey, which recorded the maximum indicator (68%) in February 2024 against the background of the ongoing presidential election campaign.