Sociologists of the institute conducted a traditional survey among Russians. They asked which political figure made the greatest contribution to the development of the Russian Federation. In 2025, 65% of Russians surveyed voted for Putin. “Layout” drew attention to the growth in the rating of the head of the Kremlin, in particular, during the war in Ukraine, which was unleashed by the Russian Federation.
Putin’s “rating,” according to a RAS survey, has reached its peak. In 2000, 12% of Russians named him 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%,” the publication noted.
The Russians put Stalin in second place after Putin in 2025. 45% of respondents voted for him. According to the published results, Stalin's rating this year reached a record high over the past 30 years.
The respondents gave third place to the Soviet state and party leader Leonid Brezhnev.
Among other candidates on the list were Russian Tsar Nicholas II, Russian Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin, ex-USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Yuri Andropov, ex-Presidents of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin and Dmitry Medvedev.
Context
In June 2025 by According to the results of a sociological survey of the Russian non-governmental research organization “Yuri Levada Analytical Center”, Russians recognized Stalin as the greatest man of all times. 42% of respondents voted for him. Putin then took second place with a score of 31%.
