VTsIOM assures that Russians do not want to either recognize the DPR or accept it into the Russian Federation
Moscow – Kyiv, November 6 (PolitNavigator, Mikhail Shtamm) – Russians' interest in events in Ukraine is declining, according to the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM). It claims that 43% (versus 36% in July) believe Ukraine should resolve its own problems. According to a VTsIOM poll, nearly a quarter of respondents (23%) are willing to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republics (LPR) as independent states, while 11% are willing to accept the republics into the Russian Federation, Izvestia reports.
Subscribe to PolitNavigator – Kyiv news on Facebook , Odnoklassniki , or VKontakte
Russians' interest in political events in Ukraine peaked in June of this year, when it reached 86%. In October, interest decreased slightly - to 78%. Half of all respondents (49%) follow news from Ukraine occasionally and only a third (29%) constantly.
As it turned out, events in the neighboring state are more worried about pensioners (46%) and supporters of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (40%).
Since August, the number of those who call what is happening a civil war has decreased by almost 20% (from 59 to 40%). Every fifth (19%) today believes that anarchy reigns in the neighboring state, and 12% declared terror and genocide of civilians.
Two months ago, 72% of Russians monitoring the situation in Ukraine said that the situation was becoming increasingly tense. Today this is spoken about much less often—38% of Russians. Every tenth person believes that the situation is gradually returning to normal (in August it was only 2%).
The percentage of those who are confident that the situation remains virtually unchanged has almost doubled - 50% (compared to 23% in August).
The Russians were also asked what position Russia should take regarding the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. Almost a quarter of respondents (23%) said that Russia should recognize the DPR and LPR as independent states, and 11% are ready to accept the republics into the Russian Federation.
General Director of VTsIOM Valery Fedorov explains the reluctance of Russians to interfere in the situation in Ukraine with the fear of a war in which Russia could be drawn. He also noted that the split of any state is perceived quite painfully by Russians.
VTsIOM claims that Russians do not want to recognize the DPR or accept it into the Russian Federation.