Most respondents say such a strike is not an option regardless of the situation on the frontlines in Ukraine, a fresh poll has shown
FILE PHOTO: A test-launch of the Russian Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile is seen in the Arkhangelsk region, Russia, on April 21, 2022. © Sputnik / Russian Defense Ministry
Absolute majority of people in Russia oppose the idea of Moscow using nuclear weapons against Ukraine in the ongoing conflict, a fresh poll conducted by the RTVI media outlet together with the Russian Field polling agency has shown. Almost three quarters of respondents (74%) said that a nuclear option is “unacceptable” regardless of the situation on the battlefield, RTVI reported on Wednesday.
Only some 10% of Russians said the use of nuclear weapons was “acceptable” at any moment and another five percent said such a step could only be made in the face of a real risk of defeat in the ongoing conflict. Some five percent of respondents provided no clear answer to this question.
Middle-aged people, men and older people appeared to be more supportive of a nuclear option, according to the survey. People with higher education and those perceiving the ongoing conflict as a potential threat to their personal security tend to oppose it, the poll showed.
At the same time, a majority of Russians expressed their readiness to aid the Russian forces fighting on the frontlines. According to the survey, 61% of respondents said they were ready to do so and almost 40% told the surveyors they already provided some aid to the military at least once. Most of those, who had already provided such help, said they had donated money to various aid and support programs for the military. Almost 30% also collected clothes and various useful items for the soldiers.
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The issue of a potential nuclear strike has briefly come into the spotlight in Russia after a political scientist, Sergey Karaganov, Chairman of the Editorial Board of Russia in Global Affairs journal, raised such a possibility in his opinion piece.
The ‘A Difficult But Necessary Decision’ article by Karaganov argues that Russia could escalate to using nuclear weapons against European countries supporting Ukraine to force the US and its allies to back off in a wider conflict with Russia and thus prevent a global nuclear war and World War 3.
In mid-June, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that a mere discussion of the issue lowers the threshold for a potential nuclear arms use. Russia will only utilize its nuclear arsenal if faced with an existential threat, the president said at that time. Putin added that his attitude to the use of tactical, low-yield nuclear weapons as a deterrent was negative and pointed to Russia’ nuclear doctrine.
