The poll by the Center for the Study of Public Opinion (Vtsiom) in conjunction with Sputnik news agency indicates the support of Russians for the operation remained on average between 70 and 72 percent during the months in question.
Some 70 percent of the people questioned (1,600), over 18 years-old, supported the operation, while 18 percent said they did not support it and 12 percent refrained from answering, according to Vtsiom.
For 33 percent of those questioned, the goal of the operation is to defend Russia, disarm Ukraine and prevent the installation of NATO bases there.
Some 20 percent considered that the purpose was the defense of the population of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics, while 17 percent stated that the military operation seeks to defend Ukraine from the rise of neo-fascists.
Only a meager seven percent considered that Russia aims to occupy and annex Ukrainian territories.
On the other hand, the Vtsiom indicated that 82 percent of the population does not see any intention to hold protests in their regions against the drop in living standards or alleged unfair actions on the part of the government as a result of the economic war unleashed by the West against Russia. A big portion of 82 percent of those surveyed also stated that if mass demonstrations were organized they would refrain from participating in them.
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