April 06, 2022

A Question of Conviction


A Question of Conviction

“This is the state of someone who feels like a particle in the ocean. Someone else has decided everything for them. This learned passivity is our tragedy.”

– A political analyst regarding Russian support 

Five weeks since the start of Russia's invasion into Ukraine, the tide is turning for Russian public opinion: The New York Times has reported that public approval for the war has risen alongside President Putin's approval ratings.

Back in January Putin's rating was at 69%, and as of polls released this past week they have climbed to 83%. The official current approval rating for the war is at 81%. However, we should be cautious about polling during wartime. Dissenters may be less likely to voice their opinions. And considering the current climate in Russia, dissent could land you 15 years in prison.

Denis Volkov of independent polling agency The Levada Center reported that the group’s surveys revealed that even with the polls potentially having been influenced by the political climate, they do show that many Russians hold the belief that they must rally to their leader during a time of crisis.

While it is disheartening to hear that potentially 81% of Russians support the war, polls also show that the support is not enthusiastic. Of the Russians who support the war, 35% are barely paying attention to it. They are supporting it more out of reflex rather than out of real interest in the purpose behind it.

 

You Might Also Like

Good and Evil Revealed
  • March 28, 2022

Good and Evil Revealed

"This whole situation has clearly revealed good and evil." A powerful interview with Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov, whose Novaya Gazeta newspaper suspended publication today.
Refusing to Kill
  • April 01, 2022

Refusing to Kill

12 Russian soldiers were fired for refusing to fight in Ukraine. Now, they are trying to get their jobs back.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955