Public image of Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin has been one of the most talked-about leaders in the world. As the president of Russia, his actions have caused many different reactions, both in his own country and around the globe. People have strong feelings about him because of the many decisions he has made during his time in office.

According to a survey by the Russian non-governmental organization Levada Center, about 85% of people in Russia said they approved of Putin at the start of 2023. This was the highest level of approval in almost eight years, showing that many in Russia still supported him at that time.

Ratings and polls

Domestic

According to public opinion surveys, Vladimir Putin's approval rating was 60% in July 2020. His popularity grew from 31% in August 1999 to 80% in November 1999 and never dropped below 65% during his first presidency. Observers see Putin's high approval ratings as a consequence of the significant improvements in living standards and Russia's reassertion of itself on the world scene that has occurred during his period of office.

In January 2013, at the time of the 2011–2013 Russian protests, Putin's rating fell to 62%, the lowest since 2000. In August 2014, following the annexation of Crimea, Putin's approval rating had rebounded to 85.9%, a six-year high. In February 2015, based on domestic polling, Putin was ranked the world's most popular politician. In June 2015, Putin's approval rating climbed to 89%, an all-time high.

In May 2020, Putin's approval rating dropped to a historic low of 59% in an April poll by the Levada Center. In May 2021, 33% indicated Putin in response to "who would you vote for this weekend?" among Moscow respondents and 40% outside Moscow. A survey released in October 2021 found 53% of respondents saying they trusted Putin. Observers see a generational struggle among Russians over perception of Putin's rule, with younger Russians more probably to be against Putin and older Russians more likely to accept the narrative presented by state-controlled media in Russia. Putin's support among Russians aged 18–24 was only 20% in December 2020.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, state-controlled TV, where most Russians get their news, presented the invasion as a "special military operation" and liberation mission, in line with the government's narrative. In late February 2022, a survey conducted by the independent research group Russian Field found that 59% of respondents supported the "special military operation" in Ukraine. According to the poll, in the group of 18-to-24-year-olds, only 29% supported the "special military operation".

International

See also: Russophilia and Russophobia

According to a 2017 survey by the Worldwide Independent Network/Gallup International Association (WIN/GIA), Putin's international reputation increased significantly between 2015 and 2017,(43% favorable in 2017 compared with 33% in 2015). Putin was also highly popular in some non-Western countries, such as Vietnam, where his approval rating was 89% in 2017. More recent international polling shows that approval for Putin declined to record lows following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Some of these views have changed considerably over time ever since 2017. For instance, in Romania, in a 2022 poll, only 3% of Romanians had a positive opinion of Putin while 70% of Romanians had a negative one. In March 2022, 97% of Ukrainians said they had an unfavorable view of Putin, and 98% of Ukrainians—including 82% of ethnic Russians living in Ukraine—said they did not believe any part of Ukraine was rightfully part of Russia. A 2023 poll by Pew Research Center in 24 countries around the world showed that 87% of respondents felt distrustful of Putin, with only 11% feeling confident in Putin. 82% of respondents have negative views of Russia.

Assessments

Vladimir Putin was chosen as Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2007 because he greatly influenced world events. In April 2008, he was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Some people praised Putin for bringing order to Russia, while others criticized him for limiting free speech and fair elections.

Different leaders and writers have shared their opinions about Putin. Some compared him to famous characters, while others expressed concern about his leadership style and its effects on Russia and the world.

Brands

Vladimir Putin's name and picture have appeared on many products and advertisements. Some examples include Putinka vodka, PuTin brand canned food, Gorbusha Putina caviar, and T-shirts showing his image. In 2016, a company called Caviar made a special version of iPhone 7s from strong Damascus steel named Supremo Putin Damascus, which had a gold picture of Putin on it. There is also a beer called Putin Huylo (or Putin Huilo) made by a brewery in Lviv, Ukraine, and by other breweries around the world.

Physical condition

Vladimir Putin has built an image of being very active and strong. He has shown his skills in many challenging activities, such as extreme sports and working with wild animals. For example, in 2007, a big photo showed Putin without a shirt on during a vacation in the Siberian mountains with the words "Be Like Putin" written on it. These kinds of photos are part of a plan to show him as a strong leader.

Putin has done many impressive things, like flying in fast airplanes, showing martial arts skills, and going on adventures in nature. He has also gone deep under water in special boats and even helped fight fires from the air. These activities help create an image of Putin as someone who is very capable and tough.

Singing and painting

In December 2010, Vladimir Putin sang a song called Blueberry Hill with a jazz band and played some piano at a concert for a children’s charity in Saint Petersburg. He also sang a Russian song about space travelers called Grass by the Home. Famous actors like Kevin Costner and Sharon Stone were there.

Putin painted a picture called "A Pattern on a Hoarfrost-Encrusted Window" during a Christmas fair in December 2008. This painting sold for a lot of money at a charity event. It showed a frosty window pattern and was part of a special art project connected to a famous Russian story.

In popular culture

A Russian movie called A Kiss not for Press came out in 2008 on DVD. Some people say the movie is based on the life of Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila.

Characters from other stories, like Dobby, a house elf from the Harry Potter films, and Daniel Craig who plays James Bond, are sometimes said to look like Putin. There are many songs about Putin, such as Такого, как Путин – "[I Want] A Man Like Putin" and others from different countries.

Putin has also appeared in jokes, comics, and online videos. For example, he was part of a YouTube series called Epic Rap Battles of History. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, some leaders made fun of Putin's photos where he appears very strong and muscular. There are also documentary films about Putin, like The Putin Interviews and Putin's Witnesses.

Putinisms

Not to be confused with Putinism.

Main article: Vladimir Putin's language

Vladimir Putin has created many well-known sayings and phrases, called putinisms. Many of these were first said during his yearly question-and-answer sessions. In these sessions, Putin replies to questions from reporters and people across Russia, who call in or join from different places in the country. Putin is famous for speaking in a strong and direct way.