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Officials in Russian regions that the Kremlin has historically sought to shield from the effects of the war in Ukraine are beginning to acknowledge the impacts of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes in the Russian rear. Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko told the Leningrad Oblast regional assembly on April 15 that Leningrad Oblast has become a “frontline oblast,” explicitly noting recent Ukrainian strikes against “economic and port” facilities in the oblast. Drozdenko later published a post on his Telegram channel on April 17 stating that Russian authorities will bolster air defenses in Leningrad Oblast, including by providing additional material and tactical assistance to the Russian 6th Air Force and Air Defense Army (Russian Aerospace Forces [VKS] and the Leningrad Military District [LMD]). Drozhenko stated that authorities will also begin recruiting reservists to form mobile fire groups to be stationed near industrial facilities and critical infrastructure. Drozdenko stated that reservists will sign military service contracts for up to three years through the Leningrad Oblast Military Registration and Enlistment Office and specifically called for veterans of the war in Ukraine or others with combat experience to volunteer. Ukraine’s recent successful long-range strike campaign against Russian port and oil infrastructure in Leningrad Oblast is likely forcing Russian regional authorities in areas deep in the rear to acknowledge the impact of Ukrainian strikes against critical infrastructure targets in Russia and Russia’s intensifying need to defend them.
Drozdenko’s statements suggest that Leningrad Oblast authorities may be preparing to conduct unpopular, limited compulsory reserve callup to defend critical infrastructure in the region. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced plans in October 2025 to deploy active reservists to protect infrastructure in deep Russian rear from Ukrainian drone strikes, though Russia’s existing efforts so far have not been sufficient to protect Russia’s dispersed industrial targets from Ukrainian strikes. Leningrad Oblast officials may also be intensifying the ongoing Russian internet censorship campaign, at least in part to set conditions for compulsory reserve callup and prevent Ukrainian forces from using the internet connection to conduct drone strikes. Drozdenko warned on April 17 about possible reductions in mobile internet speed and St. Petersburg residents noted internet outages on the morning of April 17 and criticized Russians who complain about the internet outages by asking what these Russians are doing to help win the war. Ukrainian forces have increasingly conducted long-range strikes against Russian oil and port infrastructure in Leningrad Oblast since March 2026, exploiting overstretched Russian air defenses and significantly damaging Russian oil export capabilities. Ukrainian strikes are likely forcing Russia to deploy more resources to defend critical infrastructure in the Russian rear, which could restrain Russia from deploying those assets, including reservists, to the frontlines in Ukraine in the future.
Russian state polls are acknowledging growing societal discontent with Russian President Vladimir Putin against the backdrop of mounting war sacrifices and an unpopular censorship campaign. Russian state-owned polling institution All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) published on April 17 the results from a poll for the week of April 6 to 12, indicating that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating declined for the sixth week in a row from 72.9 percent during the week of March 2 to 8 to 66.7 percent during the week of April 6 to 12. VTsIOM indicated that Putin’s approval ratings have declined from 72.9 percent from the week of March 2 to 8. VTsIOM polling also indicates that trust in Putin fell 1.8 percent to 72 percent during the week of April 6 to 12, down from 77.3 percent during the week of March 2 to 8. VTsIOM polling indicated that the level of support for the Kremlin’s ruling United Russia party fell to 27.3 percent during the week of April 6 to 12 from 32.1 percent during the week of March 2 to 8. The numbers from a Russian state polling organization are not reliable by themselves, but it is notable that a state-controlled institution is acknowledging a weekslong trend of growing domestic discontent with the federal government after four years of war. Other polling agencies also indicate that Russians are growing increasingly discontent with the Kremlin. Independent Russian polling organization Levada Center reported on April 16 that 61 percent of Russians have a negative opinion of the current political situation in Russia, including 52 percent who consider the political situation “tense” and nine percent who consider the situation “critical and explosive” — an increase of nine percent since May 2025. The Levada Center polling also indicates that the percentage of Russians who have a positive view of the political situation in Russia fell to 36 percent since May 2025. The Kremlin has recently faced a downturn in support amidst intensified efforts to throttle access to Telegram and continues shutting down mobile internet in certain areas, increasingly censoring and imposing tangible hardships in the everyday lives of Russians as a result of the war. The Russian domestic populace may also be growing increasingly tired as Russia continues its fourth year of war, especially as the total Russian casualty rate in Ukraine approaches one percent of the overall population.
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