[despairing laughter]

Like 70% of Russians support the war in Ukraine and escalation of force to meet their strategic goals for a negotiated peace: https://theconversation.com/as-war-in-ukraine-enters-a-5th-year-will-the-putin-consensus-among-russians-hold-275666

By contrast about 27% of Americans support the current US attacks on Iran: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/just-one-four-americans-support-us-strikes-iran-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2026-03-01/

As war in Ukraine enters a 5th year, will the ‘Putin consensus’ among Russians hold?

Polling in Russia suggests strong support for President Vladimir Putin. Yet below the surface, popular sentiment is more mixed.

The Conversation

On one hand, I might dispute the precision of that 70%, considering the terror that Russian people live in of their government.

On the other hand, I wouldn’t disagree in general terms.

Also, it’s 27% in the USA? Fuck’s sake, I’m surprised even MAGA is that fucking stupid. I guess we really aren’t getting any lower than that for absolute unquestioning support for fascism.

I’m fairly certain that a solid 30% of Americans are fully prepared to openly identify as some combination of deliberately evil and/or stupid.
As long as it irritates liberals. They have forgotten leftists exist
27% is actually pretty low considering there’s about 30% that support Trump through anything.

Ask people if they’re for or against something that the government is doing in a country where you’re not allowed to go against the government and you get the result of the majority agreeing? Shocker. That’s like asking, “Are you a traitor or not?” Of course they’re answering “no.”

That’s the same issue explained in the article you’re citing. You have to look at questions that aren’t direct.

Like other data from Levada (that your source is citing as a source for those 70%).

(BTW, the 70% aren’t answering “are you for or against the war”? They’re answering, “Do you support the army?” And we kinda have a law that doesn’t really allow to say “no” to that Edit: and, that’s also mentioned in the article)

Should Russia continue the war or start peace talks? (2026)

  • 61% peace talks
  • 30% continue war

Peace talks people have been the majority for almost the entirety of this “special military operation” (there’s only 1 month in 2023 where it wasn’t the case)

The number of people who want peace talks has also been steadily increasing. That’s the consensus. The majority wants it to stop.

The 70% you’re speaking of consists of 2 groups:

  • The pro-war people
  • The “yes” people
  • The first group is estimated at about 25-30%, these are the actual people who support the invasion, although recently, they seem to have become increasingly dissatisfied with the results and the government.

    The second group will agree with everything that seems to fit the position of the government. They don’t have an actual opinion. They’re kind of like sheep: they’re just trying to survive. Those are the people who take the stance of propaganda, and they are the reason propaganda works in the first place. That’s ~40%

    The group who is openly against war is estimated at about 15-25%, although its much more difficult to gauge it considering they are thought to be much less likely to answer questionnaires due to the risk of political prosecution.

    Конфликт с Украиной в январе 2026 года: внимание, поддержка российских вооруженных сил и идеи переговоров, представления о том, что делать, если добиться договоренностей не получается, о продолжительности и конечном результате военных действий

    В январе 2026 года за ситуацией вокруг Украины следили менее половины опрошенных – минимальные показатели за время наблюдений. Уровень поддержки действий российской армии остаётся высоким. Большинство опрошенных считают, что необходимо переходить к мирным переговорам, в то же время, доля сторонников продолжения военных действий выросла до трети респондентов. Больше половины опрошенных считают, что, если добиться мира пока не получается, России следует нарастить удары по Украине, в том числе, с использованием новых видов вооружения. Большинство респондентов по-прежнему считают, что военные действия продлятся ещё долго, только треть говорит о том, что они завершатся в течение года. Мнение о том, что военные действия завершатся победой России, разделяют три четверти респондентов, эта доля довольно устойчива.

    You are literally arguing that the only numbers that count out of Russia are the ones that agree with your position. Either polling from Russia is real or it isn’t. You don’t get it both ways.

    Read it carefully:

    Are you pro-Russia or not?

    The answer’s going to be “pro-Russia”

    Are you pro war or peace?

    The answer is going to be “peace”

    The wording is extremely important. I’m not saying the polling is fake, I’m not saying that results are wrong.

    I’m saying that you need to look at the question and really think what it’s about.

    Mind you, my source, and your source’s source is literally the same Levada. The same series of questions. The same numbers.

    Again. You are arguing that the “wording is extremely important” but then misrepresent what the question actually was. Can you at least pretend to argue in good faith or is this all you have?

    Then explain how exactly am I misinterpreting it?

    And why is your interpretation better? Considering your source failed to mention the question and falsely attributed it to “special military operation” support (I explained how that’s incorrect in the first comment)

    Also, explain how exactly am I arguing in a bad faith? I’m trying to explain my position, yet you aren’t giving me yours, choosing to essentially only say that I’m wrong. Isn’t that a bad faith argument?

    I hope that Russian 70% number is high because people are lying. The article attributes it to independent pollsters running surveys in Russia. With the kind of skullduggery that goes on in Russian politics, you’ve got nothing to gain by taking chances.
    It’s stunning that they got 30% to say yes I’m a traitor. That’s deafening opposition under the circumstances.