Subtle drop in Putin's ratings carries an unusual signal

"The steady decline in Vladimir Putin's ratings is sending a message — just not the kind polls in democracies are designed to capture.

As the Kremlin's grip over the internet tightens, pro-war military bloggers, figures from state-approved "opposition" parties, and even influencers have railed against the online crackdown.
State-linked pollsters, meanwhile, report that the Russian president's approval rating has steadily declined, reaching its lowest point during the all-out invasion of Ukraine.
About 73% approve of Putin's performance.
These margins — which would be the envy of most democratic leaders — cannot be taken at face value amid the omnipresent censorship and Russian wartime propaganda, experts say.
Some argue that they point at something else: a growing rift between the "civilian" and the "security" (siloviki) factions of the regime over the internet crackdown." KI