29 September 2021. VCIOM presents the data of a survey on the attitudes of Russians towards nuclear weapons.
Nuclear war probability |
An overwhelming majority of Russians (86%) say it is hardly likely that a nuclear war will occur within the next 2-3 years. Seven percent of respondents oppose them.
Half of Russians (49%) to a certain extent feel anxiety related to the threat of nuclear war (mainly female respondents): 36% feel a certain degree of anxiety; 10% have a strong worry; 3% have a constant fear. The other part of respondents are not afraid that a nuclear war may occur (49%); they are mainly men (61%).
Every second Russian considers that keeping and building nuclear weapons are likely to help maintain peace (54%). More than one-third of respondents have the opposite opinion (34%).
Russia’s nuclear potential |
Despite disarmament launched in 1962, most of Russians (71%) believe that Russia should keep its nuclear weapons at the same levels; 16% say disarmament efforts should be continued.
Most of Russians (83%) do not support the idea to dismantle and destroy the Russian nuclear weapons within the next 3-5 years: 15% think the nuclear potential should be increased; 58% think it should be kept at the same levels; 10%, reduced. Five percent of respondents think that nuclear weapons should be fully dismantled within the next 3-5 years; 13% remain undecided.
Russians are split in their opinions on the long-term prospects of Russia’s nuclear potential: only 40% think the weapons should be kept in the same volume; 17% think it should be increased; 13%, reduced. This share is 3 points higher among those who think the nuclear weapons should be fully dismantled (8%) and 10 points higher among those who are undecided (22%).
Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on September 4, 2021. 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.
In your opinion, how likely is it that a nuclear war occurs within the next 2 or three years? (open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||
| Total respondents | Men | Women |
Highly unlikely | 30 | 38 | 24 |
Hardly likely | 56 | 53 | 59 |
Likely | 6 | 5 | 8 |
Very likely | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Don’t know | 7 | 3 | 8 |
To what extent are you personally afraid of the occurrence of nuclear war? I will read out 4 options; please choose the one that suits you. (open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||
| Total respondents | Men | Women |
I am not afraid at all | 49 | 61 | 38 |
I am somewhat afraid | 36 | 28 | 43 |
I have a strong anxiety | 10 | 9 | 12 |
I have a constant fear | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Don’t know | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Some people think that countries should keep and build nuclear weapons in order to keep the world from war. In your opinion, is keeping and building nuclear potential by the competing states likely to help maintain peace, or not? ( closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Likely to help maintain peace | 54 |
Unlikely to help maintain peace | 34 |
Don’t know | 12 |
Disarmament was launched globally in 1962. In your opinion, should Russia continue disarmament or should it keep the weapons it possesses today? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents ) | |
| Total respondents |
Russia should continue disarmament | 16 |
Russia should keep the weapons it has today | 71 |
Don’t know | 13 |
In your opinion, what should Russia do with its nuclear potential within the next 3-5 years? ( closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
It should be increased | 15 |
It should be kept at the same levels | 58 |
It should be reduced | 10 |
It should be fully dismantled and destroyed | 5 |
Don’t know | 12 |
And what should Russia do with its nuclear weapons in the long-term (25-30 years)? ( closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Russia should increase it | 17 |
Russia should keep it at the same levels | 40 |
Russia should reduce it | 13 |
Russia should fully dismantle and destroy it | 8 |
Don’t know | 22 |