MOSCOW, September 22, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data regarding the issue whether Russians think it is necessary to change nuclear arsenal in short-term and long-term perspectives, and whether they think Russian authorities are concerned about combat readiness of strategic nuclear forces.
Most of Russians think there is no need to change nuclear arsenal level of our country in the near future: 54% propose to keep it at the same level (60% in 2006). The share of those who think the arsenal should be increased has lessened (14% versus 19%) and, on the contrary, the share of those insisting on nuclear reduction has increased (16% versus 11%). And finally, 4% support the idea to dismantle all nuclear arms.
Supporters of "Fair Russia" party (73%), residents of North-Western, Volga and Siberia Districts (61% for each) are in favor the preservation of nuclear weapons at the same level. Adherents of LDPR party (26%) and far-easterners (22%) think that the nuclear warheads are not sufficient for Russia; on the contrary, those who support such parties as "Yabloko", "Pravoe Delo" and "Patriots of Russia" (29%) think the Russian nuclear arsenal is excessive.
A vast majority of our fellow-citizens oppose the idea to change nuclear weapons level in a long-term perspective (43%).Compared with 2008, the proportion of respondents who back nuclear increase has declined (from 19 to 14%). Eighteen percent insist on cuts. The proportion of respondents who propose to dismantle all nukes has increased from 3 to 7%. Residents of North-Western District do not see the point of changing arms level in a long-term perspective (55%). Southerners and far-easterners suggest arms increase (21 and 24% respectively); residents of Central District and Siberians suggest nuke cuts (21 and 22% respectively). "Fair Russia' party supporters prefer to maintain the same size of nuclear arsenal or to cut it (53 and 22% respectively); LDPR electorate is in favor of nuclear increase (26%).
Generally, Russians tend to think that the state is sufficiently concerned about nuclear combat readiness (52%). Those in favor of such an opinion are "Fair Russia" party supporters (62%), residents of the Volga District and Siberia (60 and 62% respectively). Twenty-three percent of respondents consider that Russian authorities ignore this problem - most of them are supporters of LDPR party and Southerners (31% for each). Only 6% of respondents are confident that the Russian state pays excessive attention to the nuclear combat readiness issues.
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on August 22-30, 2009. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of errordoes not exceed 3.4 %.
The foundation of Russia's nuclear potential was created in Soviet times. In your opinion, what Russia should do with its nuclear arsenal in the near three or five years? | ||
| 2006 | 2009 |
Increase | 19 | 14 |
Preserve at the same level | 60 | 54 |
Cut | 11 | 16 |
Completely dismantle and destroy | 2 | 4 |
Hard to tell | 9 | 12 |
The foundation of Russia's nuclear potential was created in Soviet times. In your opinion, what Russia should do with its nuclear arsenal in the near three or five years? | |||||||
| Total respondents | Parties that Russians would vote for if the elections to the State Duma were held next Sunday | |||||
"United Russia" | CPRF | LDPR | "Fair Russia" | Other ("Pravoe Delo", "Patriots of Russia, "Yabloko") | I would not participate | ||
Increase | 14 | 14 | 14 | 26 | 9 | 23 | 11 |
Preserve at the same level | 54 | 57 | 55 | 44 | 73 | 39 | 51 |
Cut | 16 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 29 | 19 |
Completely dismantle and destroy | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 7 |
Hard to tell | 12 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
What should Russia do with its nuclear arsenal in a long-term perspective of about 25 or 30 years? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2006 | 2009 |
Increase | 19 | 14 |
Preserve at the same level | 44 | 43 |
Cut | 16 | 18 |
Completely dismantle and destroy | 3 | 7 |
Hard to tell | 17 | 18 |
What should Russia do with its nuclear arsenal in a long-term perspective of about 25 or 30 years? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Federal Districts* | ||||||
CFD | NWFD | SFD | PFD | UFD | SFD | DFD | ||
Increase | 14 | 19 | 7 | 21 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 24 |
Preserve at the same level | 43 | 39 | 55 | 35 | 48 | 44 | 44 | 42 |
Cut | 18 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 22 | 14 |
Completely dismantle and destroy | 7 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 11 |
Hard to tell | 18 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 27 | 18 | 9 |
*Abbreviations
CFD - Central Federal District
NWFD - North-Western Federal District
SFD - Southern Federal District
PFD - Volga Federal District
UFD - Urals Federal District
SFD - Siberian Federal District
DFD - Far-Eastern Federal District
In your opinion, is our state sufficiently concerned about combat readiness of strategic nuclear forces to repel external aggression or not? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Parties that Russians would vote for if the elections to the State Duma were held next Sunday | |||||
"United Russia" | CPRF | LDPR | "Fair Russia" | Other ("Pravoe Delo", "Patriots of Russia, "Yabloko") | I would not participate | ||
Sufficiently concerned | 52 | 57 | 47 | 46 | 62 | 45 | 46 |
Insufficiently concerned, ignoring this problem | 23 | 21 | 28 | 31 | 20 | 35 | 24 |
Excessively concerned | 6 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
Hard to tell | 19 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 23 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,
the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!