The state o the Russian army is assessed as average by Russians. However most of respondents are confident that Sergey Shoygu will manage to achieve improvements.
MOSCOW, February 23, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the following questions: how do Russians assess the situation in the Russian army; whether the mandatory military service should be preserved.
As before, a relative majority of Russians assess the situation in the Russian army as average (46%). The rest of respondents give negative (31%), rather than positive assessments (16%). Those who report negative evaluations are Russians aged 35-44 (38%). They are opposed by 18-24-year-old Russians (22%) and those who served in the army (20%).
Up to 2002 the number of Russians who supported the contract-based service was quite high (55-66%), compared to the current situation (33%). Most of those who share this point of view are Russians aged 18-24 (44%), those who did not serve in the army (45%), and those who negatively assess the current situation (43%). Year by year the number of Russians who support the mandatory military recruitment and compulsory military service is increasing (from 45% in 2006 to 61% currently). This number is extremely high among elderly respondents (72%) who served in the army (68%) and those who assess the current situation in the armed forces as good (75%).
Most of Russians failed to list the policies proposed by Shoygu during the first months of his work (70%). The rest of respondents remember his initiative to replace the uniform with the one which is more convenient to wear, f.e. replacement foot wrap with socks, (9%). Respondents also noticed the checks in military units (4%), increased defense capacities (2%), fight against corruption (2%). Besides, respondents mentioned the preservation of military hospitals (2%) and schools (1%), measures to improve the life of soldiers (1%), the idea to install shower in barracks (1%).
Most of Russians are confident that Sergey Shoygu and his team will manage to achieve positive effects in the army in the near future (74%). Those who think so are supporters of United Russia party (81%) and Russians aged over 45 (76-79%); those persons who served in the army rather than those who did not (74% versus 70, respectively). Eighteen percent of Russians doubt that Shoygu and his team will improve the situation in the armed forces; those who believe so are adherents of LDPR (27%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on February 16-17, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
How would you assess the current situation in the Russian army? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||
| 1998 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2013 |
Very good | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Good | 1 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 14 |
Average | 13 | 48 | 47 | 44 | 46 |
Bad | 40 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 26 |
Very bad | 41 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 |
Hard to tell | 5 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 6 |
In your opinion, should the mandatory military recruitment and compulsory military service be preserved for the young people of military age, or not? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
| 1998 | 2000 | 2002 | 2005 | 2006 | 2008 | 2013 |
Compulsory military recruitment and compulsory military service should be preserved | 35 | 32 | 25 | 52 | 45 | 51 | 63 |
Military service should be based on contract | 55 | 61 | 66 | 39 | 49 | 39 | 33 |
Hard to tell | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 4 |
Which of the initiatives of Sergey Shoygu as Minister of Defense over the recent 100 days do you remember? (close-ended question, any number of answers) | |
Fight against corruption | 2 |
Replacing foot wrap with sock, military uniform with the one that is more convenient | 9 |
Return of regular officers | 1 |
Establishment of the order; checks in the units | 4 |
Providing servicemen with houses | 1 |
Installing shower in barracks | 1 |
Refusal to buy foreign military equipment in favor of the Russian one | 1 |
Cancellations of Serdyukov`s policies | 1 |
Increasing the military capacities of the army; equipping new weapons | 2 |
Preserving military hospitals | 2 |
Preserving military schools | 1 |
Restoring the image of the army | 1 |
Taking care of servicemen; improving the life of soldiers | 1 |
Personnel changes | 1 |
Everything he does is right; I approve of everything | 2 |
Increase of salaries for servicemen | 1 |
I do not know; I do not follow it | 2 |
None; nothing was done; too short term to do anything | 2 |
Other | 1 |
Hard to tell | 70 |
In your opinion, will Sergey Shoygu and his team manage to achieve positive effects in the army in the near future, or not? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||
Total respondents | Those who served in the army | Those who did not serve in the army | |
Definitely yes | 17 | 19 | 16 |
Rather yes | 57 | 55 | 54 |
Rather no | 15 | 15 | 17 |
Definitely no | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Hard to tell | 9 | 8 | 9 |
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!