The Kremlin is facing pressure after a viral video by Victoria Bonya, while Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings have fallen for the sixth week in a row.
In her 18-minute Instagram video, which gained 26 million views and over 1.3 million likes, Bonya said that people, artists, and even officials are afraid to speak openly. She warned that serious issues are being ignored.
She pointed to problems like flooding in Dagestan, oil pollution in the Black Sea, livestock culls in Siberia, internet blackouts, and rising pressure on small businesses due to higher prices and taxes.
Bonya also warned that if fear disappears, public tension could suddenly explode, comparing it to a coiled spring.
Moscow responded by saying steps are being taken, while analysts believe her message reflects growing public frustration, not a planned move.
Experts like Andrei Kolesnikov say war fatigue is increasing, and people are linking daily problems to the war in Ukraine, including the economic slowdown and tighter internet restrictions.
Former adviser Abbas Gallyamov noted that voices like Bonya’s may bring new audiences into opposition, as dissatisfaction grows over rising prices, internet issues, and state pressure.
Recent polls show Putin’s ratings at their lowest since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, while criticism is also rising from pro-war bloggers over slow progress and hidden losses.