Concern about Western sanctions remains at a low level. As before, people of low income and older ages who feel the vulnerability of their economic situation are more concerned about sanctions. Among the consequences of sanctions restrictions, respondents are most concerned about the freezing of Russian assets abroad, the cancellation of cultural events with the participation of Russian artists and the departure of a number of Western companies from the Russian Federation. The majority of respondents note that the sanctions have not created problems for them and their families, and also believe that Russia should continue its policy despite the sanctions.

In June, concern about sanctions increased slightly compared to this spring: sanctions did not bother 30% of respondents at all (in March — 34%); not too much — 33% (in March – 30%); rather worried — 19% (in March — 18%); very worried — 17% (in March — 15%).

Are you concerned about the political and economic sanctions posed by the Western countries on Russia? (table)

	Mar.14	Apr.14	May.14	Jul.14	Aug.14	Dec.14	Jul.15	Aug.16	Dec.17	Apr.18	Nov.18	Feb.20	Dec.21	Mar.22	May.22	Aug.22	Nov.22	Mar.23	Jun.23
Very concerned	11	8	8	10	7	16	10	7	7	7	20	12	13	19	17	22	19	15	17
quite concerned	42	34	29	26	25	35	31	32	21	23	23	19	19	27	21	19	20	18	19
not too concerned	31	40	39	43	39	33	37	38	40	42	33	36	31	30	32	26	30	30	33
not concerned at all	9	16	21	18	27	13	19	21	28	26	23	31	35	23	29	31	30	34	30
can’t say	7	3	3	4	3	3	4	2	5	2	3	2	2	1	1	2	1	3	2

Are you concerned about the political and economic sanctions posed by the Western countries on Russia? (table)

	Mar.14	Apr.14	May.14	Jul.14	Aug.14	Dec.14	Jul.15	Aug.16	Dec.17	Apr.18	Nov.18	Feb.20	Dec.21	Mar.22	May.22	Aug.22	Nov.22	Mar.23	Jun.23
Very concerned + quite concerned	53	42	37	36	32	51	41	39	28	30	43	31	32	46	38	41	39	33	36
not too concerned + not concerned at all	40	56	60	61	66	46	56	59	68	68	56	67	66	53	61	57	60	64	62
can’t say	7	3	3	4	3	3	4	2	5	2	3	2	2	1	1	2	1	3	2

Older respondents (46% of respondents aged 55 and older), as well as respondents with low incomes (45% among those who barely have enough money to eat) are among concerned about sanctions the most. In addition, the sanctions concern residents of cities with a population of more than 500 thousand people (39%) and cities with a population of up to 100 thousand people (37%).

Similar to May last year, among the various restrictions, respondents are most concerned about the freezing of Russian gold and foreign exchange reserves and state property abroad (48%), the cancellation of Russian cultural events and the dismissal of some Russian artists from foreign theaters (25%), as well as the departure of a number of Western companies from the Russian Federation and restrictions on the supply of foreign goods to Russia (23%).

When considering age groups, the top 3 concerns for respondents aged 18-24 are the withdrawal of Visa and Mastercard payment systems from the Russian Federation and the inability to pay in online stores and abroad (44%), restrictions imposed on Russian state property abroad (35%) and the departure of a number of foreign companies from Russia (31%). Other groups are characterized by the greatest concern about the foreign state property of the Russian Federation. 37% of respondents aged 25-39, 48% of respondents aged 40-54 and 58% of respondents aged 55 and older are concerned about the freezing of reserves and property in other countries.

When considering the responses of respondents by type of place of residence, Muscovites stand out with more serious concern about the freezing of Russian reserves abroad – 60% are concerned about this, and among Muscovites the least concerned about personal sanctions against Russian oligarchs – 2%. 

See also the concern caused by sanctions restrictions in May 2022:

The majority of respondents (87%) note that sanctions have not created big problems for them. And this is the greatest value since the beginning of the current conflict. If in March 2022 29% spoke about the problems caused by sanctions, then in June 2023 — only 11% (including 3% spoke about “very serious problems”, 8% — about “quite serious problems”).

Have these sanctions caused problems for you or your family? (table)

	Sep.14	Dec.14	Jan.15	Feb.15	Jun.15	Aug.15	Apr.17	Apr.18	Feb.20	Mar.22	May.22	Nov.22	Mar.23	Jun.23
Yes, they’ve caused serious problems	2	8	7	5	8	5	3	3	3	7	5	5	6	3
Yes, I’ve had some problems	14	23	27	28	25	22	16	15	7	22	11	13	12	8
No, I haven’t had major problems	44	47	45	52	49	53	43	45	30	39	33	27	37	25
No, I haven’t had any problems	35	13	12	8	13	14	32	33	57	30	50	53	44	62
Can’t say	5	10	9	8	5	6	7	5	3	2	1	2	2	2

Have these sanctions caused problems for you or your family? (table)

	Sep.14	Dec.14	Jan.15	Feb.15	Jun.15	Aug.15	Apr.17	Apr.18	Feb.20	Mar.22	May.22	Nov.22	Mar.23	Jun.23
Yes, they’ve caused serious problems + Yes, I’ve had some problems	16	31	34	33	33	27	19	18	10	29	16	18	17	11
No, I haven’t had major problems + No, I haven’t had any problems	79	60	57	60	62	67	75	78	87	69	83	81	80	87
Can’t say	5	10	9	8	5	6	7	5	3	2	1	2	2	2

Most often, respondents aged 25-39 (12%), residents of cities with a population of more than 500 thousand people (15%) and those who barely have enough money to eat (15%) spoke about the problems caused by sanctions.

Respondents for whom the sanctions of Western countries have created some problems most often noted the following: “price increases, financial difficulties, inflation” (23%), “the range of goods has decreased” (18%), as well as “problems with flights, travel” and “problems with bank cards, Internet payment, purchases in foreign online stores” (8% each).

The majority (75%) of respondents believe that by tightening anti-Russian sanctions, Western countries seek to “weaken and humiliate Russia.” 9% believe that the goal is to stop military operations in Ukraine, another 9% believe that the goal is to restore geopolitical balance.

The majority of respondents (73%) believe that Russia should “continue its policy despite the sanctions.” Compared with the autumn polls, the number of respondents holding this opinion has slightly increased (in November there were 70% of such people). 21% of respondents were in favor of finding a compromise in order to lift sanctions (in November – 22%).

How do you think Russia should react to Western sanctions? (table)

	Sep.14	Dec.14	Jan.15	Mar.15	Jun.15	Aug.15	Nov.15	May.16	May.17	May.22	Nov.22	Jun.23
To carry on with its policies despite the pressure	68	66	69	72	70	68	65	75	70	75	70	73
find compromise	22	24	21	21	20	20	26	17	19	19	22	21
can’t say	10	11	11	6	10	12	9	8	10	6	9	7

Respondents aged 18-24 (28%) and those who barely have enough for food (27%) spoke most in favor of concessions to lift sanctions.