MOSCOW, 12 November 2025. The VCIOM Analytical Centre presents the findings of a monitoring study describing how Russians see their nation.
Indelible heritage
Soviet heritage is definitely an important part of the Russia’s history. However, in the eyes of Russians it gradually loses its former monopoly on the formation of national identity: the dynamics over the last 25 years shows lower confidence that the Soviet power left an indelible mark on our national identity making Russians different from Europeans. However this viewpoint is still dominant.
Rethinking of the role of the Soviet past occurs primarily among young people. Not surprisingly, it’s alien to the post-Soviet generations grown up in a world of globalization to perceive the world through the us-them binary opposition, which cannot be told about the older generation (60+) raised under the iron curtain amidst severe ideological confrontation with the West.
The first part of the study reveals a similar generational gap in views on the distinctiveness of the Russian people.
What kind of nation is Russian people?
Previously we found out that Russians largely tie the distinctiveness of the Russian people to its spirituality – a specific mentality, worldview and values, kindness, rich culture, et cetera.
The findings also show that the Russian cultural code preserves the features inherited from the Soviet human. Russians still endow the Russian nation with qualities and values such as selflessness, collectivism, modesty (or willingness to be content with little), self-sacrifice and paternalism. At the same time, the modern epoch makes corrections to the image of the Russian people. Today Russians less often agree that they got used to doing things jointly, being content with little, sacrificing themselves and needing a strong hand. This may indirectly be indicative of weakening collectivist and paternalist settings, an increase in growth of civic consciousness and readiness to take responsibility over themselves.
Another important feature of the Russians people is religiosity. Compared to early 2000s, today more respondents say that Russians are a nation that preserved the Christian faith in its purity. And it doesn’t necessarily refer to active participation in the church life: according to a May survey religion for Russians means basically a national tradition and adherence to moral and ethical standards.
A Russian nationwide ‘VCIOM-Online’ online survey was conducted May 21-23, 2025. A total of 1,604 respondents aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Survey method: online survey using a formalized questionnaire, probability-based ‘VCIOM-Online’ online panel. The panel participants are recruited through daily nationwide CATI-based ‘Sputnik’ survey, using RDD sample from a complete list of mobile phone numbers in use in Russia.
The data were weighted for socio-demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Over the seventy-five years of the Soviet power the Russian people have become different from people in the western countries, and it cannot be changed ** (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
2000* | 2025 | |
Definitely yes/likely yes | 76 | 67 |
Definitely no/likely no | 24 | 33 |
** From here on, the questions were recalculated without the undecided ones as in 2000 this answer option was not offered.
Over the seventy-five years of the Soviet power the Russian people have become different from people in the western countries, and it cannot be changed (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Definitely yes/likely yes | 67 | 52 | 55 | 60 | 71 | 79 |
Definitely no/likely no | 33 | 48 | 45 | 40 | 29 | 21 |
In Russia, people got used to treating each other like family, not thinking about benefit (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
2000* | 2025 | |
Definitely yes/likely yes | 70 | 65 |
Definitely no/likely no | 30 | 35 |
We got used to doing things jointly, so we don’t stand those who put themselves above team (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
2000* | 2025 | |
Definitely yes/likely yes | 76 | 57 |
Definitely no/likely no | 24 | 43 |
We got used to being content with little and not chasing success and wealth (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
2000* | 2025 | |
Definitely yes/likely yes | 70 | 56 |
Definitely no/likely no | 30 | 44 |
Only a Russian person can sacrifice themselves in favor of great goals they set for themselves (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
2000* | 2025 | |
Definitely yes/likely yes | 78 | 66 |
Definitely no/likely no | 22 | 34 |
Russian people cannot do without powerful leaders, “a strong hand” that could guide them (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
2000* | 2025 | |
Definitely yes/likely yes | 80 | 65 |
Definitely no/likely no | 20 | 35 |
Russians are a rather religious nation preserving the Christian faith in its purity (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
2000* | 2025 | |
Definitely yes/likely yes | 52 | 60 |
Definitely no/likely no | 48 | 40 |
*Before 2017, surveys were conducted through household face-to-face interviews (Express project); stratified multi-stage sample, with quotas based on socio-demographic parameters; representative of the Russian population aged 18+, according to type of settlement, gender, age, education and federal district. Sample size: 1,600 respondents.
Author: Lyudmila Karpova