Anxiety among Russians due to war in Ukraine has doubled

The main source of concern among Russians in 2022, compared to last year, was the war in Ukraine, according to the results of a study by the Public Relations Development Company (PRDC).

Source: PDRC; Russian media outlet Kommersant

Quote: "According to the results of the study, the main source of anxiety among Russians in the outgoing year was the special operation [the official term used by Russians to describe the ongoing war with Ukraine – ed.], as well as related topics: escalation of the conflict with the West and possibility of use of nuclear weapons, sabotage and possible transfer of hostilities to the territory of the "old" oblasts of Russia, and partial mobilisation."

Details: The study notes that, according to an analysis of reports in the media and social networks, the overall level of anxiety among Russians has doubled since last year.

But if in 2021 the fears of Russians were mostly provoked by the coronavirus pandemic, this year no one mentioned COVID-19, and the main source of anxiety was Russia’s war.

In general, anxiety about the war was among the top three fears of Russian citizens in 83 of the country's 85 oblasts. In 70 oblasts, it ranked first. The second most frequent fear is inflation, which occurs in the top three in 71 oblasts. In third place is partial mobilisation, which can be found in the top three in half of the oblasts.

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