MOSCOW, 4 October 2022. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey regarding the Russian perceptions of the referendums on the incorporation of new territories into Russia; the survey was commissioned by the Social Research Expert Institute (EISI).
Russians show highest levels of awareness of the referendums in DNR and LNR and liberated areas in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions: 96% of respondents have heard about that in a varying degree. Eighty percent of them are well aware. Four percent of respondents heard about the referendums for the first time in the course of the survey.
According to 77% of those Russians who are aware, referendums were conducted honestly, without major violations. Eleven percent of respondents oppose them. About the same percentage of Russians remain undecided/did not answer the question (12%).
Three-quarters of Russians favor the incorporation of DNR, LNR and liberated areas in Zaporozhye and Kherson regions into Russia (75%). Every second respondent shows greatest confidence (52%). Twelve percent of Russians express a neutral viewpoint; 11% have negative opinions.
Russians tend to have favorable views regarding the protection of DNR and LNR and liberated areas in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, even if it makes Russia’s relationships with other countries more complicated. Eighty-three percent of respondents consider that Russia should protect the interests of people living in these areas. They are opposed by 11%; 6% remain undecided.
VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide telephone survey was conducted 1 October, 2022, and commissioned by the Social Research Expert Institute (EISI). A total of 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over took part in the survey. Survey method: telephone interviews using a stratified random sample based on a complete list of mobile phone numbers in use in Russia. The data were weighted according to 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.
October 1, 2022 survey key effectiveness indicators: cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.8195; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0239; response rate (RR)*** = 0.1498.
September 11, 2022 survey key effectiveness indicators: cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.7971; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0255; response rate (RR)*** = 0.2288.
Calculations based on
the corporate standard profi.wciom.ru/principy_standarty/korporativnyj-standart-po-izmereniyu-rezultativnosti-oprosov-sputnik-vciom/
* CR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews and b) non-interviews with eligible respondents.
** MRR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews, b) interrupted interviews after successful screening and c) all the respondents where it is unknown whether they meet the selected criteria or not.
***RR: RR is calculated in the same way as MRR, with the only difference that the number of respondents with unknown eligibility decreases proportional to the percentage of eligible cases in the total number of respondents with identified eligibility or non-eligibility.
Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics and liberated districts in Zaporozhye and Kherson regions held referendums on incorporation into Russia on September 23-27. Do you know, did you hear about that, or do you hear about that for the first time? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
I am well aware of that | 80 |
I heard something but I do not know details | 16 |
This is the first time I hear about it | 4 |
In your opinion, were the referendums conducted fairly, without major violations, without fraud, or unfairly, with major violations and fraud? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who heard about referendums; data calculated in % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Definitely fairly | 43 |
Likely fairly | 34 |
Likely unfairly | 5 |
Definitely unfairly | 6 |
Don’t know /unanswered | 12 |
How do you perceive the incorporation of Donetsk and Luhansk People’s republics, liberated areas in Zaporozhye and Kherson regions into Russia? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Definitely positively | 52 |
Likely positively | 23 |
Likely negatively | 5 |
Definitely negatively | 6 |
Likely without emotions, indifferently | 12 |
Don’t know | 2 |
Should Russia protect the interests of the inhabitants in Donetsk and Luhansk People’s republics, liberated areas in Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, even if it makes its relationships with other countries more complicated, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Yes | 83 |
No | 11 |
Don’t know | 6 |