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Almost 70% Russians back decision on special military operation in Ukraine — pollster

The pollster held a public opinion poll on February 3, 19 and 22 of this year among 1,600 adult Russians

MOSCOW, February 24. /TASS/. Russian citizens’ support for the special military operation in Ukraine increased by three percentage points from 2022 to 68%, the All-Russian Public Opinion Center (VCIOM) reported on Saturday.

The pollster held a public opinion poll on February 3, 19 and 22 of this year among 1,600 adult Russians and published its results.

"After the special military operation was announced, most Russians (65%) backed this decision and a year after this figure increased to 68% and remains at this level in 2024," the pollster said in a statement.

Two-thirds of the respondents (65%) are certain that the special military operation is proceeding successfully enough for Russian troops. This indicator has gained 6% from the latest gauge in February 2023, coming close to the figures of March 2022 (70%).

Four out of ten of those polled (43%) believe that the goal of the special military operation is to defend Russia, disarm Ukraine and prevent the deployment of NATO bases on its territory (44% in March 2022), VCIOM said.

"Every fifth respondent mentioned protecting the population of the DPR and the LPR [the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics], the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions as the objective (20% compared to 17% in March 2022). Another 15% believe that Russia seeks to change Ukraine’s policy and clear it of Nazis (19% in March 2022)," the pollster said in a statement.

Seven out of ten respondents (72%) agree that every Russian citizen should make a fair contribution to successfully completing the special military operation while 19% of those polled hold the opposite view, it said.

"Two-thirds of Russians support the idea that now people should live according to the principle: ‘everything for the front, everything for the victory! (64%) while 28% of the respondents are not prepared to agree with this judgment," the pollster said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24, 2022 that Russia had commenced a special military operation in Ukraine for the purpose of Ukraine’s denazification and demilitarization.

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