The mood among the population is also holding up because the consequences of the conflict have not been so bad so far. Economic sanctions take time to take effect, and the country can count on friendly countries to help mitigate the impact. The economy held up better than expected. Trade with non-enemy countries has increased. According to a Portal report, many Western products are still easy to find in the country
If history teaches anything, as it should, it is that Russians tend to unite and make sacrifices when engaged in conflict. Certainly the suppression of contradiction and propaganda help, but that crumbling consensus in the population, there does not appear to be a premise for a change at the top of the country for the time being. The war in Ukraine, initially presented as a matter of a few weeks, will be one year old without assuming any obvious conclusion. The number of victims is in the tens of thousands. However, according to some independent polls by the US agency Bloomberg, the majority of Russian citizens say they are ready to continue fighting. To agree with Wladimir Putin it didn’t go away, it actually increased slightly.
Only one in five Russians are in favor of laying down their arms now, which would mean a significant admission of defeat. 75% of the population claims to support the actions of Moscow troops in Ukraine, a share left constant over the past 12 months. As soon 19% criticize them. The intensification of the conflict has increased popular support for their soldiers. The message from Kremlin Accordingly, the country is not only fighting against Ukraine, but has advanced with the entire West, which has led to a relatively relaxed acceptance of the consequences of the conflict in everyday life. Bloomberg also documents how initiatives are proliferating a troop supportlike the collection in the Schools of products to be sent to the front.
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As bitter as they are putin, credited by many with reviving a national pride that had faded after the collapse of the USSR, reaping the rewards of a policy of indoctrination, control and suppression of dissent been carried out for years and draws on a cultural background rooted in Russian society. The most ideologically hostile groups with the means to actually disrupt the Kremlin have been silenced, and in many cases their members as well have since left the country. The undecided, faced with the obligation to take sides that is physiologically inherent in entering a war, have decided to support their country. The Russian President appears not only unchallenged but wanting a fresh start, run again in the 2024 elections which, if won, would allow him to lead the country until at least 2030.
The mood among the population holds up also because the consequences of the conflict are not so bad so far. Economic sanctions take time to take effect, and the country can count on friendly countries to help mitigate the impact. The economy has held up better expected. Trade with non-enemy countries has increased. Last year exchange with the China increased by 34% to 190 billion euros, imports from Turkey increased by 62% to over 9 billion euros Kazakhstan by 25% to 8.5 billion. These are often simple triangulations. Turkish companies that buy, for example, Italian or French products and resell them in Russia. In India and China only 5% of the population believe that Moscow is an enemy. In Turkey 10%. Thanks to the proceeds from the sale of hydrocarbons, which continue to flow into the Kremlin’s coffers, Moscow has been able to secure aid to the most vulnerable areas and sectors.
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An investigation by the Portal agency has shown how The lack of Western products is more theoretical than real. Although several European and US brands have left the country, their products, which are not subject to sanctions, continue to arrive. Delivery times are longer because the journey involves triangulations to other countries, but bottles of Coca Cola end up on the shelves. For other types of goods, starting with clothing Zara or Ikea products, falls back on that‘on-line, also in this case with the only disadvantage of having to wait a few more days. Inditex, i.e. the brands of Zara, Massimo Dutti and Bershka he left Russia, but not the neighboring and allied country Belarus from where the products can easily cross the border. Many young Russians live in Europe, Istanbul or Dubai that they organize Websites for collecting orders Buy locally and then send it home. Additionally strengthening of the ruble made many foreign products particularly cheap, more than compensate shipping costs. Cans and bottles of Coca Cola come from all over Europe, they cost more than before, but even in this case the ruble is strong blurs the difference. In short, Portal documents taking shape alternative commercial network, with many small active subjects and greater use of e-commerce.