Most Russian citizens dislike Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, respect the "militia of southeastern Ukraine" and think it is necessary to provide Ukrainian refugees with all living conditions in Russia, the All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) said after a series of polls.
“Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko mainly evokes negative emotions in Russians: distrust (29%), dislike (19%) and condemnation (17%),” VTsIOM Chief Valery Fyodorov said at a news conference on July 31.
The new president is considered to be a henchman of the West (43%), of oligarchs (37%) and of Ukrainian nationalists (21%), Fyodorov said.
Meanwhile, 79% responded they are certain that mostly local residents and a small share of Russian volunteers fight on behalf of militia in southeastern Ukraine, Fyodorov said.
At the same time, most Russians have positive feelings towards militias of southeastern Ukraine – respect (39%), hope (22%) and liking (19%), polls showed.
During the surveys respondents were asked whether troops should be brought to Ukraine, Fyodorov said. “Only a fourth Russian citizens support bringing Russian troops to the territory of southeastern Ukraine,” he said.
As to the reasons, which might provoke bringing in troops, Russian citizens named the following: if civilians continue dying in Ukraine (18%), if a threat of terrorist attacks in Russia emerges, and if attacks at checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian border continue (18%).
Meanwhile, 33% of respondents said that Russia should not bring troops to Ukraine under any circumstances.
Half of the Russians polled support Russian authorities providing Ukrainian refugees with everything necessary and create conditions for residing in Russia, Fyodorov said.
“Thirty nine per think they should be sent back to Ukraine but only after the situation there returns to normal,” he said.
VTsIOM held polls in 2014 in 130 cities, towns and villages in 42 Russian regions among 1,600 respondents.
