Poll reveals 75% of Russians support Special Military Operation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Feb 15:23
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The survey was conducted on January 26-31, 2023, and was based on an all-Russian representative sample of 1,616 urban and rural residents aged 18 and over in 137 cities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech on the eighth anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow in March last year. (Reuters)

A survey conducted by the independent Levada Center reported that 75% of surveyed Russians in the month of January said they supported Russia's special military operation in Ukraine.

The survey was conducted on January 26-31, 2023, based on an all-Russian representative sample of 1,616 urban and rural residents aged 18 and over in 137 cities.

When the conflict broke out, support for the operation was recorded at 80%.

It then fell to 72% in September of last year, and again to 71% in December.

Western observers have slammed the results as false and said that Russians were pressured to give a favorable opinion on the military operation, arguing that approvals of the military operation are actually lower.

However, the Levada Center pointed out in a release that survey-taking behavior had not changed since the start of the conflict - indicating that Russians are confident about expressing their views freely.

The same survey asked Russians how they felt about the mobilization, to which many responded with fear.

The second most common answer was pride, especially for the age group of over 40s, whereas younger generations said shock was the most common feeling, and anger was the third most common response.