RAS poll: a record percentage of Russians said Putin and Stalin brought the greatest benefit to Russia

Leonid Brezhnev also made it into the top three.

In 2025, 65% of Russians surveyed named Vladimir Putin as the politician who brought the greatest benefit to Russia. In second place is Joseph Stalin, who was chosen by 45% of Russians. “Verstka” found such data in a sociological survey of the Institute of Socio-Political Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAN). The survey was conducted in May 2025. During the response, respondents could choose several political leaders.

In order not to miss new texts from “Layout”, subscribe to our telegram channel

Over 25 years, Vladimir Putin’s “rating” has grown more than fivefold

Putin’s “rating,” according to a RAS survey, has reached its peak. In 2000, 12% of Russians named him as the figure who brought the greatest benefit, in 2012 - 35%, in 2016 - 56%, in 2018 - 54%. After 2018, the rating began to grow and after a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 it reached 60%.

Stalin’s “rating” in the RAS survey turned out to be a record for the last 30 years. In 1995 it was significantly lower - 15%. In 2000, 25% of Russians named Stalin as the one who brought the greatest benefit to Russia, in 2008 - only 14%. The Soviet leader’s “rating” began to grow significantly by 2016 (31%), and then after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (40% in 2022).

The “ratings” of Nicholas II and Leonid Brezhnev are also growing

Along with the ratings of Putin and Stalin, the ratings of Tsar Nicholas II and the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Leonid Brezhnev are also growing. Nicholas II was named as the figure who brought the greatest benefit to Russia by 16% of respondents, Brezhnev by 24%.

Presidents Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin are leading in the anti-rating. 59% of Russians consider Gorbachev the figure who brought the greatest harm to Russia. 56% of respondents think so about Yeltsin.

Earlier, “Verstka” reported that according to RAS surveys, almost 80% of Russians believe that “ Russia is fundamentally different from the West .” During Putin's reign, this figure has increased eightfold. We also wrote that according to a survey by the Russian Academy of Sciences, every tenth Russian family in 2024 constantly limited itself in food products .

Photo: Matryoshka dolls with Vladimir Putin, Joseph Stalin and Vladimir Lenin on a layout in St. Petersburg. 2007 REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk

Support “Vestka” - it’s important and safe →