In recent polls, the majority of respondents blame the United States for the escalating tensions in Ukraine, with only four percent blaming Russia. This is not surprising, as the average Russian is a bellicose species, but a patriotic surge in 2014 provided symbolic compensation for socioeconomic problems. Despite a lack of societal cohesion, Russians generally viewed the war as justified, and regarded themselves as defensive.
The recent Crimean annexation has resulted in a rise in Putin’s approval ratings. However, a recent Levada Center poll found that 40 percent of Russians view war with Ukraine as a high probability, and 38 percent consider it unlikely. Only 15 percent rule out the possibility of war. This means that the majority of Russians are psychologically unprepared for war. And it is not surprising that many Russians are unaware that Putin is waging war.
The rallying around the flag effect started to dissipate in 2018 and 2019. In 2014, 26 percent of respondents said that Russia was surrounded by enemies on all sides, compared to 16 percent in 2020. The symbolic might of the state institutions lost their mobilizing power. People began to fear war. And so they began to re-examine their values. Do Russians support War?? and Its Effects on the Population
The rallying around the flag effect has waned. The poll also revealed that 66 percent of Russians aged 18-24 have a positive attitude toward Ukraine. But there are still many negative effects to the war. And the consequences of a war could be disastrous. The Russians, like many others around the world, do not want to risk their lives for a foreign enemy. The only way to stop the bloodshed is to end it.
There are still many questions that are not answered. There is no clear answer to the question: do Russians support the war? And why do they oppose it? The answer lies in the political context. The Ukrainian conflict has caused a significant economic and political crisis. The country has lost its international standing. The only way to stop this is to stop the war. In the meantime, the Russian people must fight the Assad regime, which is creating a situation that can cause a revolution.
In 2014, the rallying effect of the flag has disappeared. A majority of Russians viewed the annexation of Crimea as the most urgent threat to the nation. In 2016, the annexation of Crimea did not elicit a strong response from the Russian public. Instead, the repression of the Ukrainian people has made it less powerful than it was in 2014. And, a war can only be fought with the consent of the population.
The Russian people are not ready for war. Their support for Ukraine is limited to the Ukrainian government. The country’s annexation has also frightened many Russians. The recent annexation of Crimea has caused the country to lose its reputation abroad. In addition, they are not mentally prepared for the war to end. They have no motivation to participate in a conflict. They have no intention to risk their nation’s security.
In 2014, Russians were more likely to support war if they were in the conflict. In fact, the annexation of Crimea was popular, and many Russians accepted the idea. In 2015, many of the young Russians supported the Ukrainian separatists. Even those who opposed the annexation in the same year are also against the Russian government’s military operations. In contrast, the annexation of Crimea is an armed confrontation between two countries.
According to the Levada Center, a recent survey of Russian citizens showed that a majority of Russians do not support war. While most people have negative views of NATO, they are overwhelmingly supportive of the annexation of Crimea. The Pew report cited a study conducted by Deutsche Welle and Gallup on the topic. The results indicated that a majority of Russians regarded the conflict as a legitimate political dispute.
In an earlier poll, more than one-third of Russians said they would support the military operation in Ukraine. But no independent polling firm has been able to show the public mood in Russia regarding war in Ukraine. In fact, the polls of Ukrainians and Russians showed that the majority did not support the intervention. They did not approve of the annexation. There were many other reasons why the annexation of Crimea should not be imposed.