July 04, 2023

Scared and Suspicious


Scared and Suspicious
Moscow, 2010. Marc Veraart, Flickr

Russian Field, a group of independent sociologists, conducted a survey on Russians' attitudes to the War in Ukraine. The survey polled 1604 persons from across Russia by phone between June 16 and 19 (before the Prigozhin Mutiny).

The findings indicate a relatively high level of loyalty toward the government and policies of President Vladimir Putin. Specifically, 64 percent of respondents support Putin's decision to launch a new offensive on Kyiv. However, researchers note that such loyalty may be influenced by a climate of repression, and it is possible that the number of negatively inclined respondents who choose not to participate in surveys is higher than the reported figures.

Despite the general loyalty observed, it cannot be concluded that Russians fully trust the authorities, as approximately 45 percent of respondents said they believe that official information about the war in Ukraine should not be trusted.

The desire to end the war is also reflected in respondents' preferences regarding the continuation of the conflict or the initiation of peace negotiations. The survey found that citizens are almost evenly split, with 45 percent in favor of continuing the war and 44 percent supporting peace negotiations. Notably, Russians between the ages of 18 and 29 displayed the strongest inclination toward peace, with over 60 percent in this age group favoring negotiations.

When the question was posed with the clarification that a second wave of mobilization would be required to continue the war, the "negotiation party" became a majority (54 percent), while the "war party" became a clear minority (35 percent). This preference for transitioning to negotiations prevailed across all age groups.

The growing "peace party" in Russia is being fueled by mounting concerns over mobilization. These anxieties are perhaps exacerbated by reports from the front. Despite certain regional authorities banning the publication of obituaries for fallen soldiers, independent journalists are persistently tallying casualties using publicly available data, revealing over 26,801 deaths (at press time) among those mobilized. Furthermore, grievances from the front continue to surface, with some soldiers reporting shortages of essential resources such as water, while others express concerns about being deployed into combat without adequate weaponry.

 

 

You Might Also Like

Undesirable News
  • June 28, 2023

Undesirable News

The Russian Prosecutor General's has declared Novaya Gazeta Europe "undesirable" due to its independent reporting.
Military Against War
  • June 19, 2023

Military Against War

The Russian military has created a secret anti-Putin organization that is fighting against the dictatorship and opposes the war with Ukraine.
No Money, Only War
  • March 29, 2023

No Money, Only War

Russian authorities blame the "special military operation" for the disruption of infrastructural and social projects.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Marooned in Moscow
May 01, 2011

Marooned in Moscow

This gripping autobiography plays out against the backdrop of Russia's bloody Civil War, and was one of the first Western eyewitness accounts of life in post-revolutionary Russia. Marooned in Moscow provides a fascinating account of one woman's entry into war-torn Russia in early 1920, first-person impressions of many in the top Soviet leadership, and accounts of the author's increasingly dangerous work as a journalist and spy, to say nothing of her work on behalf of prisoners, her two arrests, and her eventual ten-month-long imprisonment, including in the infamous Lubyanka prison. It is a veritable encyclopedia of life in Russia in the early 1920s.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955