Russians are becoming less interested in what is happening in neighboring Ukraine amid reports of decreased military activity in the country, state-run pollster VTsIOM reported in a survey published Wednesday.
According to the poll, 71 percent of Russians are currently following events in Ukraine, including 25 percent of respondents who say they are following them closely. In January, 83 percent said they were following events in Ukraine, with 38 percent doing so closely.
Of those 71 percent who said they follow events in Ukraine, only 36 percent characterized the events in Ukraine as a civil war, down from 50 percent at the beginning of the year. Only 6 precent said that what is happening can be qualified as genocide and terror, compared with 17 percent saying so in January.
Thirty-four percent of those following events there said that the situation in Ukraine has not changed recently, while 6 percent said things were gradually getting back to normal. At the beginning of the year, 25 percent said that it hadn't changed and only 4 percent said that things were getting better.
Ukraine has been at the top of Russia's media and political agenda since mass protests in Kiev toppled President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014. Since then, Russia has engaged in a bitter conflict with Ukraine and the West over the country's fate.
The poll was conducted among 1,600 respondents with a margin of error not exceeding 3.5 percent.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
