Media: most Russians support war against Ukraine and want Putin to continue ruling

Anastasiya Kalatur – Friday, 18 March 2022, 01:26

Polls suggest that 71% of Russians support the war against Ukraine.

Source: results of polling by two independent Russian sociologists, cited in Radio Svoboda

Details: According to the results, Russians that support the war experience emotions such as pride, joy, respect, trust, and hope.

Russians aged over 35 most often expressed the feelings of pride, respect, and hope, while Russians under 18 were more likely to feel disappointed and upset. Younger Russians were also more often uneasy about the war. Russians aged 25-44 most often reported feelings of anxiety and fear.

At the same time, only 2 out of 5 Russians reported feeling uneasy about the war.

Younger Russians in the 18-24 group were more likely to express indifference about what is going on in Ukraine.

More than half of poll participants aged 55 and over supported the war with Ukraine.

Three-quarters of Russians find out about the war from the TV, and 64% from state TV channels.

In response to a question about Vladimir Putin’s actions, one-third of respondents said that they firmly believe that Putin is acting with their interests in mind. Overall, the majority of Russians polled believe that it would be better if Putin remain President for as long as possible. This response was the most widespread among [state] TV audiences. Russians who rely on personal connections and digital platforms [to obtain the news], perceive the president differently.

The polls were conducted in the end of February and in early March, with ten days between them.

The change between the first and the second poll results indicates a rise in the number of people who support the "military operation" and the independence of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. At the same time, pessimism about personal finance is rising due to sanctions. The results of the second poll should be considered in light of the tightening state control on mass media and freedom of speech – and the possibility that those polled might be both afraid and prejudiced.