Russian political analyst explains how Russian society is divided on supporting war against Ukraine
Photo: About 15% of Russians oppose the war (Getty Images)
The majority of Russians have no attitude toward the war against Ukraine. The active share is about 30%, Ivan Preobrazhensky, a Russian political analyst in the opposition, says in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
According to Preobrazhensky, the active core of support for the war is about 15-17% of the Russian population. At different times, it has been shrinking and growing, depending on the situation at the front.
About 15% categorically do not support the war, and some of them have left for foreign countries. "Because of this, this group initially shrank to around 10% by 2023. Then it expanded due to the breaking of psychological barriers when the war reached people’s homes. These could be the wives or relatives of mobilized soldiers or mercenaries killed in Ukraine,” the political scientist said.
Among the opponents of the war are young people who realize that their future in Russia will be more like everyday life in North Korea if the country continues on this path. Smaller groups of the population also do not support the invasion.
Regional elites, who built their careers on corruption and had no democratic inclinations but enjoyed sending money to France or England, were also caught off guard when their survival strategies were abruptly taken away
Inert Russians who are not involved in the war make up about 70% of the population. To outsiders, these Russians appear to support the war because they do not protest. But on their level, when faced with a choice, they often choose the lesser evil to avoid putting themselves at risk. "This is the same kind of teacher who starts reading a course on 'Important Stories,'” the analyst adds.
However, these people are aware of what’s happening and know that Russia attacked Ukraine, but they are not prepared to do anything about it.
Russia has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine since February 24, 2024. The war is supported by the vast majority of Russians, as according to the Levada Center, 75% of respondents approve of the war.
The war coming into their territory was unexpected for the people of Russia. According to the Levada Center, the Ukrainian forces' operation in the Kursk region was the main event in August 2024. This was stated by 40% of respondents.
