The political stability of wartime Russia, and the apparent equanimity of Russian society in the face of mounting material and human losses, are commonly attributed to the pro-war convictions of the Russian ‘majority’ and to ‘top-down’ influence — a combination of propaganda and repression. The heightened loyalty recorded in public opinion surveys is, in turn, often interpreted as a classic ‘rally-round-the-flag’ effect.

The political stability of a warring Russia and the ability of Russian society to maintain equanimity in the face of growing material and human losses are usually explained by the pro-war beliefs of the Russian “majority” and factors of “vertical” influence - a combination of propaganda and repression. And the increased loyalty demonstrated in surveys is a “rallying under the flag” effect.