For first time in 20 years, over half of Russians express pessimism amid Ukraine war
Gallup research reveals a significant shift in Russian public opinion: for the first time in two decades, more than half of respondents express pessimistic views, with declines in economic sentiment, trust in institutions, and confidence in the military.
Newly released data from Gallup shows a major change in Russian public sentiment during the war in Ukraine. Contrary to the previous assumption that Russians have largely rallied behind the state despite international sanctions and military costs, the latest polling indicates a broad rise in pessimism. For the first time in 20 years, over half of respondents report negative outlooks.
Benedict Vigers, Senior Global News Writer at Gallup, notes that Russia is experiencing not just a deterioration in economic sentiment but a deeper psychological turning point. The data reveal simultaneous declines in perceptions of the economy, trust in key state institutions, confidence in the military, faith in elections, and even perceptions of media freedom.
While public confidence had remained unexpectedly resilient in previous years, the current figures mark a significant shift. The research is based on more than two decades of continuous polling.
