The situation in Syria is evolving in the right direction; Russian Airspace Troops have proven to be effective. But Russians are divided in their opinions on whether the military operations should be continued or Russia should withdraw troops.
MOSCOW, October 12, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a study of Russian assessments of the situation in Syria.
More than one-third of respondents (79%) are more or less interested in the situation in Syria, however the share of those who follow the developments regularly is only 23%. The overall figure is lower than it was in January this year (87%). The current situation is often referred to as “war” (20%) or “anti-terrorism struggle” (20%)
The public assessments have changed dramatically over a year: the share of those who report normalization of the situation reached 58% in September 2017, compared to 15% in October 2016.
Russian Aerospace Forces have fulfilled their mission in Syria, according to 78% of citizens; however, 54% say that Russia should go on military operations in Syria till victory (34% oppose them). Those who advocate for further military involvement say that Russia should deal a devastating blow to terrorism and finish what it started. Those who think that Russia should withdraw (34% across sample in general) point to the current losses.
A majority (73%) are in favor of supporting Damask even after the war in the following ways: sending humanitarian aid (75%), providing military (45%) or diplomatic (44%) assistance. Financial assistance is rarely cited 25%).
The VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide survey was conducted on September 29-30, 2017. The survey involved 1,200 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 for the probability of selection and reflect social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 3.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The 2015-2016 results are based on household surveys.
Are you personally interested in the situation in Syria? (closed-ended, one answer, %) | ||||||||
| X. 2015 | XI. 2015 | III.2016 | VI.2016 | X.2016 | I.2017 | IV.2017 | IX.2017 |
I follow the situation regularly and attentively | 22 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 29 | 22 | 23 |
Occasionally, not regularly | 46 | 49 | 53 | 42 | 46 | 58 | 60 | 56 |
Not interested at all | 31 | 31 | 24 | 40 | 32 | 13 | 18 | 21 |
Don’t know | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Can you describe in two or three words what is happening in Syria today? (open-ended question, not more than 3 answers %) | |
| Total respondents, September 2017 |
War / military actions | 20 |
Anti-terrorism fight | 20 |
Russia helping Syria | 13 |
War coming to an end | 7 |
A vast territory was liberated | 7 |
Lawlessness / chaos | 5 |
Russia-US confrontation | 5 |
Fighting for power | 5 |
Rebuilding from war | 5 |
A Russian general was killed; our soldiers are dying | 4 |
America is bombing Syria/US intervention | 3 |
Innocents are dying | 3 |
Business | 1 |
Poverty / unemployment / hunger | 1 |
Carving-up of the territory | 1 |
Truce | 1 |
Russian military training/ Russian weapons test in Syria | 1 |
Other | 2 |
Don’t know | 32 |
In your opinion, how has the situation in Syria changed lately? (closed-ended, one answer, %) | |||||
| III.2016 | VII.2016 | X.2016 | IV.2017 | IX.2017 |
The situation is being normalized | 48 | 27 | 15 | 39 | 58 |
The situation is getting neither better nor worse | 27 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 22 |
The situation is getting tense, dramatically deteriorating | 11 | 13 | 34 | 21 | 8 |
Don’t know | 14 | 26 | 18 | 9 | 12 |
In your opinion, have the Russian Aerospace Forces accomplished their mission in Syria? (closed-ended, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents, September, 2017 | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34- | Aged 35-44- | Aged 45-59- | Aged 60 and over |
Definitely yes | 37 | 21 | 22 | 38 | 45 | 46 |
Rather yes | 41 | 48 | 44 | 43 | 38 | 37 |
Rather not | 5 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
Definitely not | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Don’t know | 14 | 18 | 22 | 15 | 11 | 12 |
In your opinion, should Russia get further involved in the war in Syria? (closed-ended, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents, September 2017 | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34- | Aged 35-44- | Aged 45-59- | Aged 60 and over |
Russia should go on military operations in Syria till victory | 54 | 35 | 41 | 53 | 64 | 62 |
Russia has generally accomplished its mission in Syria and should withdraw | 34 | 50 | 44 | 39 | 26 | 25 |
Don’t know | 12 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 13 |
In your opinion, why should Russia go on military operations in Syria? Up to three answers (open-ended question, not more than 3 answers, % of those who think that Russia should go on military operations in Syria) | |
| Total respondents, September 2017 |
We need to put an end to terrorism to exclude any threat to Russia | 29 |
We need to finish what we started | 25 |
We need to achieve peace and stability in Syria | 13 |
To help people | 10 |
To defend our interests and to get what we want | 10 |
If we withdraw, everything will come back, and we will lose what we have achieved | 7 |
If Russia withdraws, the U.S. will come to this region | 6 |
If we withdraw, we will show our weakness | 4 |
We need to help them build the country after the war | 3 |
No one but us can do that | 3 |
We have invested a lot of money, now it is not time to go | 1 |
If we withdraw, things will get even worse | 1 |
Troops will get real combat experience | 1 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 9 |
In your opinion, why should Russia withdraw from Syria? Up to three answers (open-ended question, not more than 3 answers, % of those who think that Russia should withdraw) | |
| Total respondents, September 2017 |
Our people are being killed | 24 |
We have plenty of unsolved domestic problems | 15 |
Huge financial losses | 14 |
We have done the biggest part; they can do without us | 13 |
Making wars is bad | 7 |
The war is long-drawn-out | 5 |
We turn other countries against us again | 4 |
We should not have intervened in the conflict from the very beginning | 2 |
One should not interfere in the affairs of other countries | 2 |
We have not got anything equal in return; no benefit at all | 2 |
A war on our territory may threaten us | 1 |
The mistakes of the Afghanistan campaign should not be repeated | 1 |
Having received aid people start to hope for more help | 1 |
Other countries should provide assistance too | 1 |
Other | 1 |
Don’t know | 25 |
In your opinion, should Russia provide assistance to Syria after the military operations? (closed-ended, one answer, %) |
| |
| Total respondents, September 2017 | |
Definitely yes | 26 | |
Rather yes | 47 | |
Rather not | 12 | |
Definitely not | 7 | |
Other | 8 | |
What kind of assistance should be provided to Syria? Up to 3 answers (closed-ended, not more than three answers, % of those who consider that after the military operations Russia should still provide assistance to Syria) |
| |
| Total respondents, September 2017 | |
Humanitarian | 75 | |
Military and technical | 45 | |
Diplomatic | 44 | |
Financial | 25 | |
Economic | 2 | |
Political | 2 | |
All above-mentioned | 1 | |
Other | 3 | |
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!