Results of our studies

MOSCOW, 5 March 2022. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the findings of a study on the Russian perceptions of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.  

Most Russians trust the Russian army (84%); one in ten respondents are likely not to trust (10%).

Seventy percent of Russians believe that the military operation is going well for the Russian forces. Fourteen percent of respondents are likely to think that it is not going well; 16% remain undecided.

Seventy-one percent of Russians support the decision to conduct a special military operation in Ukraine. One in five are unlikely to support it (21%). Eight percent of Russians fail to provide an answer.

According to 46% of Russians, Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine aims to protect Russia and prevent the deployment of NATO military bases in Ukraine. One in five believe that the operation was started to change Ukraine’s political course (19%); 18% say it is needed to protect the Russian-speaking population in the DPR and LPR; 5%, to occupy Ukraine and incorporate it to Russia.  

Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted March 3, 2022. A total of 1,600 of Russians aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Results are based on telephone interviews. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and 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

 

Do you support or not support the decision to conduct Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine?

(closed-ended question one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

 

25.II

27.II

03.III

Likely to support

65

68

71

Unlikely to support

25

22

21

Don’t know

10

10

8

In your opinion, what is Russia’s mission of the special military operation in Ukraine?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

To protect Russia, to disarm Ukraine and not to allow it to deploy NATO military bases

46

To change Ukraine’s political course, to denazify Ukraine

19

To protect the population of Donbass (DNR and LNR)  

18

To occupy Ukraine and incorporate it to Russia

5

Other

8

Don’t know

4

In your opinion, is the military operation going well for the Russian forces, or not?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of respondents)

 

Total respondents

Likely to be going well

70

Unlikely to be going well

14

Don’t know

16

Do you generally trust or distrust the Russian army?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of respondents)

 

            III.2020

IX.2021

III.2022

Likely to trust

83

78

84

Likely to distrust

10

13

10

Don’t know

7

9

16