Every fifth Russian reported an increase in expenses due to the war

Almost a quarter believe that the war had no impact on their lives

In 2025, 20% of Russians reported an increase in their spending due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This follows from a opinion poll conducted in May by the Institute of Socio-Political Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, to which “Verstka” drew attention.

This figure has increased sharply compared to last year, when only 12.4% of respondents spoke about an increase in expenses. In 2023, this figure was 9.1%.

At the same time, almost every fourth Russian (23.4%) believes that the full-scale invasion of Ukraine did not in any way affect his own life and the lives of his loved ones. Sociologists asked the same question in April 2024. At that time, there were more Russians who believed that the war did not affect them - 29.2%.

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The number of Russians who lost loved ones in the war has also increased

The number of Russians also increased (from 4.3 to 7.3%) whose relatives or friends were killed or injured in the war with Ukraine.

According to the survey, the number of those who started helping “SVO participants” or members of their families, on the contrary, decreased (from 4.4 to 2.9%).

At the same time, among the problems that highly concern Russians, “problems of conducting a special military operation in Ukraine” occupy fifth place. More than Russia's participation in the war, citizens are concerned about the high cost of living, rising prices for food and utility bills, and high inflation. Immediately after the anxiety about the war comes high concern about the spread of drug addiction and the rise in crime.

Photo: View of the Kremlin. Arthur Widak via Reuters Connect

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