81% of Russians Support the War

The only slightly lower numbers for support within the country (73 percent) for the U.S.&#x27;s (none too dissimilar) invasion of Iraq in 2003 (as posted by another commenter) are actually quite important, for context.<p>Given that the NYT was perhaps the most notable of journalistic cheerleaders for that debacle -- a shameful episode in its history that it now &quot;regrets&quot; -- their failure to mention this context should not be surprising.

One wonders: how many Americans would have supported a shooting war in Cuba, had it come to it in 1962.

If you are interested in trying to understand the Russian perspective, I&#x27;d suggest the stuff from Richard Sakwa, like his book <i>Frontline Ukraine: Crisis in the Borderlands</i>.[1] Sakwa is a Russia specialist and seems to have put more effort that anyone else into understanding how Russians view the Ukraine situation. Pro-Ukrainian writers have accused him of being an apologist for Russia, but I think it&#x27;s more accurate to say that he tries to be objectively critical and so doesn&#x27;t support popular narratives.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;24717077-frontline-ukraine" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;24717077-frontline-uk...</a>

It is illegal in Russia to be against the war. So what outcome do you expect from the polls?

It is true but it is so unbelievable and surreal. How can it be? I have friends in Russia and now I read their posts on vk.com and so many of them are pro-war completely believe Putin&#x27;s narrative. It is so sad.