Poll: Fewer Russians support their government's actions in eastern Ukraine
Over the past year and a half, more and more Russians believe Russia’s intervention in the conflict in eastern Ukraine to be unnecessary, Radio Svoboda reported. According to a poll by the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM), 38% of respondents believe that Moscow should maintain neutrality. In January 2015, there were 28% of respondents, who thought so.
The number of those who are in favor of recognition of independence of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) or in favor of the integration of those republics to Russia is decreasing. Currently, there are 23% who still support it, compared with 29% in 2014. The number of supporters for continued humanitarian assistance to DPR and LPR is also falling.
In January 2015 78% of Russians believed that humanitarian convoys with food and medication should be sent to the Donbas. Now, almost a third of those respondents believe that this shouldn’t be done.