How do Russians really think?

Polls from Russia regularly shock audiences in Europe. An overwhelming majority of Russians seem to support the “special military operation” against Ukraine, as the war in the country has to be called. According to studies by the Levada Center, an opinion research institute, around 75 percent of the Russian population supports the war. This is roughly in line with the estimate of another well-known institute in Russia, the All-Russia Public Opinion Center (Vtsiom). The latter reports 70 to 73 percent support. The Levada Center is considered independent, while the Wziom is controlled by the authorities. In their assessment, however, they are remarkably close.