A growing number of Russians have a sense of foreboding about their country’s future, according to a new poll, an ominous sign from a population long accustomed to living under economic sanctions.
Of the more than 1,600 Russians polled by the independent Levada Center, 58% believe that “hard times are yet to come” – the largest percentage of respondents with that dismal view in the last 15 years. The last time the numbers spiked – from 25% to 55% of respondents in late 2018 – Putin had just announced intensely unpopular cost-saving reforms to Russia’s pension plans.
Another quarter believed that Russia is already experiencing hard times.
The center did not offer an explanation or theories about the spike in pessimism among Russians, though the polling took place days after Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin – who for the first time this year became one of the top 10 officials Russians trust most
The responses also came amid new scrutiny into how Russian President Vladimir Putin is straining the Russian economy to overcome broad international sanctions and finance his invasion of Ukraine.
The latest rise, based on a survey conducted in the last week of June, accounts for a 10% increase over the prior month and likely represents concern about Russia’s prospects for a public whose increasingly autocratic government has outlawed criticizing its invasion of Ukraine.
Analysts generally see the results of Levada polling as skewed since respondents are likely distrustful of openly criticizing the government, though it is broadly considered among the most accurate sources of Russian public opinion inside the country.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...tp&cvid=2d0efbc3b1164724b35cbc19508d319d&ei=9
I'm feeling more optimistic about Ukraine's future.
Yesterday I learned Erdogan supported Ukraine's entry into NATO and Russians killed in their "special military operation" estimated to be 50,000. That's about the same as Americans killed in our Vietnam "police action".
Even if Ukraine has the same number, they're dying for their homes, family, freedom, etc. IOW, they're dying for a real cause. Russians are dying because Putin's regime is butthurt that Ukraine wants to be independent, democratic, free, and part of the West.
Putin actually had a meeting with Prigozhin, the mutinist. If that isn't a sign of weakness, what is?
If Ukraine can just hold the line for another year at minimum they'll get F-16's and more artillery.
Although Trump, if elected, may try to pull the rug from under their momentum and indirectly support Putin's special military operation.
At least the majority of republicans are in support of Ukraine.
If Ukraine can just hold on, and they seem to
Of the more than 1,600 Russians polled by the independent Levada Center, 58% believe that “hard times are yet to come” – the largest percentage of respondents with that dismal view in the last 15 years. The last time the numbers spiked – from 25% to 55% of respondents in late 2018 – Putin had just announced intensely unpopular cost-saving reforms to Russia’s pension plans.
Another quarter believed that Russia is already experiencing hard times.
The center did not offer an explanation or theories about the spike in pessimism among Russians, though the polling took place days after Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin – who for the first time this year became one of the top 10 officials Russians trust most
The responses also came amid new scrutiny into how Russian President Vladimir Putin is straining the Russian economy to overcome broad international sanctions and finance his invasion of Ukraine.
The latest rise, based on a survey conducted in the last week of June, accounts for a 10% increase over the prior month and likely represents concern about Russia’s prospects for a public whose increasingly autocratic government has outlawed criticizing its invasion of Ukraine.
Analysts generally see the results of Levada polling as skewed since respondents are likely distrustful of openly criticizing the government, though it is broadly considered among the most accurate sources of Russian public opinion inside the country.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...tp&cvid=2d0efbc3b1164724b35cbc19508d319d&ei=9
I'm feeling more optimistic about Ukraine's future.
Yesterday I learned Erdogan supported Ukraine's entry into NATO and Russians killed in their "special military operation" estimated to be 50,000. That's about the same as Americans killed in our Vietnam "police action".
Even if Ukraine has the same number, they're dying for their homes, family, freedom, etc. IOW, they're dying for a real cause. Russians are dying because Putin's regime is butthurt that Ukraine wants to be independent, democratic, free, and part of the West.
Putin actually had a meeting with Prigozhin, the mutinist. If that isn't a sign of weakness, what is?
If Ukraine can just hold the line for another year at minimum they'll get F-16's and more artillery.
Although Trump, if elected, may try to pull the rug from under their momentum and indirectly support Putin's special military operation.
At least the majority of republicans are in support of Ukraine.
If Ukraine can just hold on, and they seem to
