Russians are more convinced than at any time in recent history that their country is a great power, as enthusiasm over military campaigns in Ukraine and Syria seems to outweigh worries about a deep economic slump.
Sixty-five percent of Russians surveyed by the independent Levada Center pollster said Russia was a great power, compared to 25 percent who disagreed. Four years ago, in 2011, the split was around 50-50.
Since then, Russia's economy has entered a deep recession and a currency collapse means the economy is some 40 percent smaller in U.S. dollar terms, thanks in part to the effect of sanctions over the Ukraine crisis and a fall in the price of oil, Russia's most important export.
However, President Vladimir Putin has flexed military muscles abroad, annexing Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula last year and firing cruise missiles and dropping bombs on Syria this fall, all with the approval of state-run Russian media.
The Levada Center polled 1,600 people across Russia between Nov. 20-23. The margin of error did not exceed 3.4 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.
