Widespread anger over Kremlin‑imposed internet blackouts has pushed ordinary Russians, influencers and even low‑level officials to publicly question President Vladimir Putin. Restrictions on Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and the heavily used messaging app Telegram have disrupted daily commerce and emergency alerts, prompting a surge of complaints on social media and in parliament.

State pollster VTsIOM reported Putin’s approval slipping for seven straight weeks to 65.6%, the lowest level since before the 2022 invasion. The dip coincides with mounting economic strain, tax hikes and the perception that internet curbs target private life. Even members of United Russia, such as Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, warned that blocking Telegram endangers civilian air‑raid warnings.

Critics have rallied around the opposition party New People, which now polls at roughly 13%, positioning it as the most popular Kremlin‑approved alternative ahead of September’s parliamentary vote. While the Kremlin touts a domestic “super” app called MAX, the growing digital dissent signals that consumer‑grade platforms remain a bargaining chip for any future policy concessions.

With VPN downloads surging, foreign tech firms see a narrow window to monetize workarounds, while domestic developers scramble to embed surveillance into new services. The forced migration from Telegram to MAX could reshape Russia’s digital advertising spend, redirecting billions of rubles toward state‑controlled channels and away from global platforms that previously dominated the market.