Russian Support for Ukraine War Plummets, Poll Reveals

Support for the Ukraine war among Russians has significantly declined, with the number of those fully supporting the invasion nearly halving since February 2023, according to a recent poll by independent pollster Chronicle. The survey revealed that more Russians support the withdrawal of troops from Ukraine than those in favor of continuing the war. The Kremlin is reportedly concerned about the political impact of war disaffection leading up to the 2024 presidential election, with the US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War suggesting that Vladimir Putin will focus his re-election campaign on domestic stability and criticism of the West rather than the war. However, conducting polls in authoritarian states like Russia is challenging due to criminalization of war criticism and pro-war propaganda.