MOSCOW, March 18, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Crimea’s reunification with Russia.
The majority of respondents (88%) view positively the Crimea’s reunification with Russia (94% of persons aged 60 and over).
According to 18% of respondents, the Crimea’s reunification with Russia has had positive impact on their life and their families. This share is higher among those people who support “A Just Russia” and “United Russia” parties (27% and 22%, respectively). Positive consequences refer to wider travelling opportunities: 21% of respondents say that now they can easily cross the border to go to vacation. Three-quarters (73%) consider that the Crimea has made a big progress since it became part of the Russian territory compared with what it was when the Crimea was part of Ukraine.
On the contrary, every tenth respondent (9%) believes that the Crimea’s reunification with Russia has had bad consequences on their life. First of all, negative consequences are related to sanctions against Russia (4%) and a fall in living standards (4%). At the same time, 29% of respondents fail to specify any negative consequences, and the majority (70%) consider that the Crimea’s reunification with Russia has had no impact on their life.
VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on March 12, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. 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 in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
How do you generally view the Crimea’s reunification with the Russian Federation: positively or negatively? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over |
Definitely positively | 55 | 29 | 39 | 50 | 63 | 69 |
Rather positively | 33 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 28 | 25 |
Rather negatively | 5 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Definitely negatively | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Don’t know / Indifferent | 4 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Refusal to answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Has the Crimea’s reunification with Russia had any impact on your life/the life of your family? If yes, was the impact positive or negative? (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | A Just Russia party | LDPR | KRPF | United Russia | Non-parliamentary parties |
Positive | 18 | 27 | 11 | 17 | 22 | 17 |
No impact | 70 | 62 | 78 | 67 | 73 | 56 |
Negative | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 24 |
Don’t know | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 3 |
Refusal to answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What positive impacts has the Crimea’s reunification with Russia had on you/your family? (open-ended question, up to 5 answers % of total respondents; answers of at least 2% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
We can go to vacation without crossing the border | 21 |
Crimea is ours / We returned our land / Historical justice | 5 |
Now it is easier to communicate/to see friends and relatives | 5 |
The Crimean bridge was built / it is easier to get there | 3 |
Pride for Russia / higher patriotism levels | 3 |
Strategic point /Navy bases / Security | 2 |
Positive emotions / Moral satisfaction | 2 |
No impact | 14 |
Other | 0,2 |
Don’t know | 50 |
What negative impacts has the Crimea’s reunification with Russia had on you/your family? (open-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of total respondents; answers of at least 2% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
No negative impact | 29 |
Sanctions against Russia | 4 |
Fall in living standards / Crisis across the country | 4 |
Increase in prices for everything in Russia | 3 |
Deterioration of relations with foreign countries | 2 |
Russia-Ukraine conflict | 2 |
Other | 1 |
Don’t know | 56 |
If to compare what the Crimea was when it was part of Ukraine with what is now being part of Russia, in your opinion, was it making progress when it was part of Ukraine or is it making progress now being part of Russia? (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
When the Crimea was part of Ukraine | 1 |
Now when the Crimea is part of Russia | 73 |
Neither back then, nor now | 5 |
Don’t know | 21 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!