MOSCOW, February 20 /TASS/. The West's hopes to turn the Russian people against the government during the special military operation have been dashed, with polls indicating that support for President Vladimir Putin remains high, said General Director of the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VCIOM) Valery Fedorov.
"Despite a number of difficult situations, and every war has them, the level of support for the president, the leader, remains very high. Not only does it remain high, it has actually grown significantly. In January 2022, 64% of respondents approved of the activities of the head of state, while in March this share reached 78%," Fedorov said during a discussion organized by the Expert Institute for Social Research on the topic Three Years Into The Special Military Operation: How Russia Has Changed.
VCIOM’s regular telephone surveys poll 1,600 adult Russians.
He said that despite all the vicissitudes of the special military operation, support inside the country has never wavered. Today, it stands at about 75-76%.
"The unifying effect around the flag, which many believed would be short-lived, has become a stable phenomenon. This is a new plateau, a new level of support, where the president has gained a foothold, one he has kept for three years," Fedorov said.
In general, he said the country's political system, despite attempts by outside forces to undermine it, has remained stable and even grown stronger. "At the beginning of the special military operation, the ratings of almost all state institutions, both central and local, increased simultaneously. They are higher today than they were before. There was no political split. According to our numbers, the majority of respondents (58%) believe that the special military operation served as a uniting force for Russian society rather than a divisive one (25%)," said the head of VCIOM.
New heroes and growing patriotism
According to him, the political system has been tested these past three years. "And it has shown its ability to adapt. There is now a stronger call for patriotism, for cleansing the elite, and for new heroes. And they are gradually appearing not only at the front, but also in the political system. This process is stimulated by special programs," said Fedorov.
Polls show that Russian patriotism has increased significantly over the past eight years. In 2016, about 80% of respondents described themselves as patriots, while in 2024 it was 92%. "About 80% are proud of the country now. Although we have a lot of problems, we have become even more proud of our country," said Fedorov. More than 80% of Russians believe that they have agency over their life outcome in their country.
The non-systemic opposition has been "completely marginalized during the special military operation and is now engaged in-fighting for leadership." "The distance that separates it and the Russian people has grown drastically," the sociologist said.