Amid war on Ukraine, 'over half of Russians expressing pessimism for the first time in 20 years'

According to Gallup's latest polling, Russia's public mood is shifting dramatically. For the first time in two decades, over half of Russians are expressing pessimism. The decline spans multiple areas: confidence in the military, trust in state institutions, belief in fair elections, and faith in media freedom. Economic sentiment has also taken a hit. The data challenges the assumption that Russians have rallied behind the state throughout the war in Ukraine—instead, mounting sanctions and military costs appear to be reshaping public psychology.

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