President Boris Yeltsin's latest attempt to shore up confidence in his administration will almost certainly be greeted by the public as too little, too late.


The president, bowing to political reality, has acknowledged before parliament that he was wrong to neglect the human cost of reform. But still he defended his government, saying he doubted anyone else could have done any belter.


Maybe so. These are wrenching times for Russia, and Yeltsin must be applauded for forging ahead with the vital but unpopular measures needed to make his country's economy work after 70 years of communism. But what about the human cost?


Judging by a recent opinion poll of Muscovites, that cost is telling in an erosion of public confidence never before faced by Yeltsin and his team. The survey, conducted by the Betaneli independent polling institute and published in Izvestia, showed support for Yeltsin's economic policy remaining steady from the previous poll at 25 percent. Not too bad, but the poll was conducted before the latest dives of the ruble, which has lost a third of its value against the dollar since Thursday.


The survey, however, also showed that 49 percent of those questioned had a hard time naming a single positive aspect of the present Russian leadership; 45 percent not only could name negative aspects, but did. Topping the list were lack of concern for the population, deception of the people and unfulfilled promises.


Two-thirds of the Muscovites questioned also expressed regret over the breakup of the Soviet Union. and an overwhelming majority - 93 percent - said they were concerned over the fate of fellow Russians living in former Soviet republics; the government, respondents said, should do more to help them return.


More than 400, 000 refugees have already flooded into Russia from the republics, according to Itar-Tass. With the escalating conflicts along the border, this number is certain to rise, increasing the social pressure on the government.


Can Yeltsin cope? His is certainly not an enviable situation, but the president is clearly not ready to throw in the towel. In fact, he took one masterful tactical step Tuesday.


Of the dilemmas facing post-Soviet society, corruption is one of the most intractable. Yeltsin's solution? He named Vice President Alexander Rutskoi, often portrayed as a rival, to head a new anti-corruption squad. In so doing, he shifted at least part of the public confidence problem onto somebody else's shoulders. For Rutskoi, whose popularity had been rising, this is most likely a matter not of too little, too late - but of far too much, too soon.