Yes a little more than “polls” gave Hillary prior to Trump’s win. :)
But from personal expedience, if I were Russian and someone phoned or questioned me I’d be afraid to say my actual opinion anyway. And also, I’d know my options are limited: its Putin and ____ - I don’t have real choices.
80+%.
Putin is broadly liked in his country, I know of no serous person who disputes that.
And he has a vehement, dedicated core of detractors. They come from two schools:
1. The thugs who want his empire for themselves. Navalny and his ilk.
2. Jeffersonian (d)emocrats who want to forge a republic not unlike the US. Too small in number to even warrant suppression.