Four years after the historical reunification an overwhelming majority of Russians still favor the incorporation of Crimea into Russia.
MOSCOW, March 15, 2018. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a study devoted to the fourth anniversary the Crimea’s incorporation into Russia.
An overwhelming majority of Russians (91% in 2018) still consider that the incorporation of Crimea into the Russian territory was the right decision. This belief is primarily based on perceptions of Crimea as “originally Russian territory” (54%).
Assessing the impact of the Crimea’s incorporation, 69% confidently say that the decision was beneficial for the country in general (78% in 2017). Thirteen percent cite negative impacts (21% of the 25-34-year-olds; 25% of Muscovites and Petersburgians).
The main reasons behind the unwillingness of certain countries to recognize the peninsula as Russian are “EU’s double standards/US pressure” (11%), “geopolitical interests” (9%), “negative attitudes towards Russia in general” (9%), “fear of Russia’s rise” (8%), and “envy” (8%).
The 2016 survey was telephone-based. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over, 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%.
The 2014-2015 results are based on household surveys
In your opinion, did Russia make the right decision to incorporate Crimea into the Russian territory? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||||
| III.2014 | VI.2014 | III.2016 | III.2018 |
Definitely right | 71 | 70 | 69 | 71 |
Likely right | 24 | 24 | 18 | 20 |
Likely not right | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
Definitely not right | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Don’t know | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
Why do you think that Russia’s decision to incorporate Crimea was right? Cite the most important reason (open-ended question, one answer, % of those who consider that the decision was right) | |
| % of respondents |
Crimea is ours/originally Russian territory | 54 |
Crimeans’ will | 8 |
Fraternal people/ protection of national interest | 7 |
Protection of people and territory | 6 |
Historical justice/what Khrushchev gave by mistake was returned | 4 |
Strategically important point/location of military bases | 4 |
Access to the Black sea | 3 |
To strengthen the position internationally | 1 |
Economically beneficial territory/tourism | 1 |
Don’t know | 12 |
In your opinion, has the incorporation of Crimea into the Russian territory done more good or more harm to Russia? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | |||||
| VI.2014 | II.2015 | III.2016 | III.2017 | III.2018 |
Likely more good | 75 | 69 | 60 | 78 | 69 |
Likely more harm | 9 | 14 | 22 | 13 | 13 |
Don’t know | 16 | 17 | 18 | 9 | 18 |
In your opinion, why do other countries refuse to officially recognize Crimea as Russian territory? (open-ended question, not more 3 answers, % of all respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
EU’s double standards/US pressure | 11 |
Geopolitics/access to the Black sea | 9 |
Negative attitudes towards Russia | 9 |
They are afraid of Russia’s rise | 8 |
Envy | 8 |
Russia’s economic strengthening is not beneficial to them | 5 |
Illegitimate referendum/violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty | 4 |
Silly people/they just do not want it | 3 |
Crimea is ours/they do not know Russia’s history | 2 |
US-Russia confrontation | 2 |
Fear | 2 |
Fear of losing their territories under the same scenario/destabilization | 2 |
Crimea is an occupied territory | 2 |
Strengthening the military capacities is not beneficial | 1 |
Russia’s policy aimed at expanding territories/expansionist ambitions | 1 |
Russian aggression | 1 |
Other | 2 |
Don’t know | 42 |
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.