Concerns about Western sanctions against Russia are gradually weakening. The blocking of Russian gold and foreign exchange reserves is more of a concern. The number of people who are confident that sanctions affect the majority of the population is gradually decreasing. The prevailing opinion is that the sanctions have not created serious problems for the respondents and their families. Those who still talk about problems note the departure of brands, rising prices, restrictions on travel abroad, blocking of payment systems, and the disappearance of a number of medicines. At the same time, almost two thirds of respondents believe that sanctions will strengthen our country and become an incentive for its development. The majority of respondents (73%) believe that Russia should “continue its policy despite the sanctions.”

In the last two years, concern about the political and economic sanctions of Western countries against Russia has been decreasing (by 17%). The peak of concern occurred in March 2014, when sanctions were just introduced, when more than half of Russians (53%) expressed their concern.

Older respondents (25% aged 55 and older), respondents who barely have enough for food (34%), those who believe that the country is moving on the wrong path (46%), as well as those who disapprove of the activities of V. Putin as President of the Russian Federation (57%).

Respondents aged 25-39 (23%), respondents who can afford durable goods (27%), those who believe that things in the country are going in the right direction (26%), as well as those who approve of the activities of the current president of the Russian Federation are least concerned about Western sanctions (26%).

The share of those who are concerned about the departure of a number of Western companies from the Russian Federation is gradually decreasing – 21% (27% in May 2022), as well as the Visa and Mastercard payment systems – 20% (25% in May 2022). Concern remains at the same level due to the cancellation of Russian cultural events abroad (26%), restrictions on flights to Western countries for Russian airlines (19%), personal sanctions against large Russian businessmen (8%). At the same time, the share of those who are concerned about the freezing of part of the gold and foreign exchange reserves and state property of the Russian Federation abroad has increased slightly – 54% (in June 2023 – 48%). It should be noted that of the listed restrictions, it is the freezing of gold and foreign exchange reserves and state property that still worries Russians the most. 

Russians are divided on the question of who is really affected by Western sanctions. Thus, 46% of respondents believe that sanctions affect only a narrow circle of people responsible for Russian policy towards Ukraine (the share of respondents who adhere to this position has been growing since the spring of 2022, then 26% thought so), and 45% say that they affect a wide range of the Russian population, the proportion of responses to these positions were matched for the first time.

A small circle of people responsible for the current policies concerning Ukraine; wider circle of the Russian population; can’t say

The majority of Russians still note that sanctions have not created serious problems for them and their families (88%), 11% of respondents say the opposite.

Moscow residents (20%), those who believe that the country is moving on the wrong path (27%), and those who disapprove of the activities of V. Putin as president (24%) are most likely to face problems from the introduction of Western sanctions. 

The sanctions of Western countries have not created any problems for the respondents 55 years and older (75%), residents of villages and cities up to 100,000 people (73%), those who believe that things in the country are going in the right direction (73%), those who approve of the activities of the current president of the Russian Federation (72%).

The respondents, for whom the sanctions of Western countries have created any problems, most often noted the following: “withdrawal of brands, inability to buy goods, closure of shops, factories” (30%), “rising cents, inflation” (29%), as well as “restrictions on traveling abroad” and “closure of payment systems, cards, banks, inability to pay” (13% and 12% respectively).

Most Russians believe that sanctions will strengthen our country and become an incentive for its development (their share has increased by 7% in two years). Almost one in four respondents is of the opinion that sanctions have not affected the development of the country in any way (unchanged over two years of observation), another 9% said that sanctions will cause significant damage to our country (their number has decreased by 7% since the spring of 2022).

The opinion that sanctions will cause significant damage to our country is widespread among Muscovites (17%), those who believe that the country is moving along the wrong path (31%) and those who disapprove of the activities of the President of the Russian Federation (37%). More often than others, Muscovites say that sanctions will strengthen the country and become an incentive for its development, those who believe that things in the country are going in the right direction (69% each), who approve of the activities of V. Putin as president (66%).

The majority of Russians believe that Russia should continue its policy in response to sanctions (78%). 14% of respondents are of the opinion that Russia should seek a compromise and make concessions in order to get out from under sanctions.

Most of all, the opinion that Russia should continue its policy despite sanctions is widespread among respondents aged 25-39 (80%), respondents who can afford durable goods (82%), those who believe that things in the country are going in the right direction (86), those who approves of the activities of V. Putin as president (83%). Respondents under the age of 24 (20%), respondents who barely have enough for food (21%), those who believe that the country is moving on the wrong path (38%), who disapprove of the activities of V.Putin as President (40%) spoke more often about the need to seek a compromise, make concessions in order to get out from under sanctions.