UKRAINE
Russians largely support invasion of Ukraine
February 23, 2023 - As the war in Ukraine enters its second year, support at home for Vladimir Putin’s invasion remains high, thanks to a wave of propaganda and repression that silences critics.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is entering a second year as President Vladimir Putin keeps a stranglehold on the Russian public – swiftly choking any dissenting voices.
To shore up support, the Kremlin is using a carrot and stick approach – doling out cash to people in impoverished regions and shutting down media outlets that voice anything but the state version of events.
By doing so, Putin is maintaining a view that the war is far away, and the fault of the United States and its allies, while being bullish about the Russian economy and how Western sanctions have failed to crush it.
According to independent polls, Putin’s message is working, despite the invasion dragging on far longer than the Kremlin hoped, the majority of Russians say they are prepared to keep fighting.