Gallup polling cited by multiple outlets shows a sharp rise in pessimism among Russians amid the war in Ukraine. In the latest results, 60% of respondents say conditions in their local area are getting worse, and 56% report that living standards are declining—figures described as the highest level of pessimism in about two decades. The reporting also highlights falling trust in state institutions. Trust in the Russian military is reported at 66%, down from about 80% in 2022, and confidence in the government has similarly declined. France 24 adds that the shift extends beyond economics: the polling indicates declines across several areas, including perceptions of the economy, trust in key institutions, confidence in the military, faith in elections, and perceptions of media freedom. Kyiv Post additionally notes developments in Ukrainian public opinion, saying approval of U.S. leadership declines in Ukraine while a majority increasingly favors negotiating an end to the war rather than continuing the fight for victory. The outlets present the Gallup findings as a broad psychological and confidence turning point rather than a narrow change in economic attitudes.