Most of the respondents believe that Zaporizhia and Kherson should become either part of Russia or independent states. More than half approve of holding referendums in the territories controlled by Russia in these regions, but a significant proportion of respondents do not care. Two-thirds of respondents would support the inclusion of Ukrainian regions into Russia if such a decision is made through referendums.
45% of respondents believe that the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine should become part of the Russian Federation, a fifth (21%) believe that they should become independent states, 14% – that they should remain part of Ukraine.
In the age groups of 18-24 and 25-39, 37% of respondents believe that these regions should become part of the Russian Federation, 24% and 18%, respectively, think that they should remain part of Ukraine. The largest share of supporters of the annexation of the regions to Russia is represented in the groups of 40-54 years and 55 years and older – 46% and 51%.
Among those who support the actions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, slightly more than half believe that the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions should become part of the Russian Federation. Among those who do not support the actions of the Russian armed forces, only one in five adheres to this opinion.
[1]
[2]More than half (54%) of respondents approve of the plans to hold a referendum in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, which are under the control of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Another 11% disapprove, about a quarter (27%) are indifferent.
The lowest support is typical for groups aged 18-24 and 25-39: 47% and 39% of respondents in them are indifferent to holding referendums, while 39% and 41% approve of holding them, respectively. Support is noticeably higher among older respondents: 56% among respondents aged 40-54, 68% among respondents over 55.
Two-thirds of respondents who support the actions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine approve of holding referendums in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions on their entry into Russia. Among the respondents who do not support the actions of the Russian Armed Forces, there is no definite opinion on this: a fifth approve of such plans, slightly more than a third (36%) disapprove, and 37% are indifferent.
[3]Among all respondents, 69% would support the admission of these regions to the Russian Federation according to the results of the referendum: 43% – definitely, 26% – rather. 20% of respondents would refrain from this step. The lowest support for the admission of these Ukrainian regions to the Russian Federation is represented in the group of 25-39 years: the share of those who believe that they should be accepted is 63%, those who hold a different opinion – 24%.
The respondents who support the actions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine show the greatest support: 79% believe that Russia should accept these regions into Russia if their residents support this decision in a referendum. Among the respondents who do not support the actions of the Russian armed forces, these are noticeably lower: 39%.
[4]
[5]The majority of respondents believe that Russia should support the DPR and the LPR in restoring destroyed buildings and infrastructure, 15% of respondents hold the opposite opinion. The least support for the opinion on the need for assistance to the LPR and the DPR is represented in the 25-39-year-old group: 73% of supporters of this idea are there. The majority of respondents who believe that the republics need to be supported are among the respondents 55 years and older (89%).
[6]METHODOLOGY
The survey by the Levada Center was conducted August 25 – 31 2022, among a representative sample of all Russian urban and rural residents. The sample was comprised of 1612 people aged 18 or older in 137 municipalities of 50 regions of the Russian Federation. The survey was conducted as a personal interview in respondents’ homes. The answer distribution is presented as percentages of the total number of participants along with data from previous surveys.
The statistical error of these studies for a sample of 1600 people (with a probability of 0.95) does not exceed:
3.4% for indicators around 50%
2.9% for indicators around 25%/75%
2.0% for indicators around 10%/90%
1.5% for indicators around 5%/95%
The ANO Levada Center is included in the registry of non-commercial organizations acting as foreign agents.