The question above is what this article in Foreign Affairs by Christian Caryl struggles with. Most of the article is devoted to how hard it is to be confident about Russian public opinion but this passage is the best assessment the author could come up with:
The data from Levada and other independent pollsters, such as Russian Field and the Chronicle Group, show that general support for the war remains strong—77 percent, according to the latest Levada poll, published in March. Yet Levada also noted that more respondents (52 percent) favored peace negotiations than the continuation of hostilities (40 percent), which doesn’t square with the Kremlin’s desires. And a whopping 66 percent of those surveyed agreed that Russia is paying too high a price for the invasion.
I agree with the author that making a realistic assessment of Russian public opinion is a critical need. However, I doubt that we’ll manage it especially in the near term. All I can advise is take what our news media are saying with a grain (maybe more than a grain) of salt.
“more respondents (52 percent) favored peace negotiations than the continuation of hostilities (40 percent),”
The Kremlin’s position is also in favor of negotiations; its just Putin’s insist negotiations must satisfy Russian goals (whatever that maybe).
Reporters without Borders has Russia ranked very low on press freedom, 164/180, so it will hard to determine what the Russian people think and how much of that is because the heavily censored press.
Steve
Hard to say that it matters, but Putin is concerned enough to call in recruits from the boonies. Troops aren’t coming from Moscow or St Petersburg, reports I’ve read say he’s offering what locally is a lot of money for recruits from the eastern regions.
Those who live and are paid are happy, those who die, and there are many, have no comment.