How Russians assess their life after three years of war

Three years of fighting in Ukraine have seriously affected the lives of Russian residents, sociologists say. Day-to-day life got worse for more than half the population, and more than a third found their financial circumstances have deteriorated.

• 54% of Russians said that the war had a negative effect on their day-to-day lives. This is strongly linked to declining support for the war, according to a study by the “Khroniki” project, timed to mark the third anniversary of the war (as seen by The Bell). Only 9% regarded the war as having a positive influence on daily life, while 32% said it had no impact.
• The survey of 1,600 respondents, conducted at the start of February, recorded a significant increase in the number of Russians whose financial circumstances were suffering because of the war. Back in Sep. 2024 it was 27%, by February it was up to 36%. Some 19% percent of respondents reported an improvement in their financial situations, compared with 16% in the fall. The discrepancy between those who complained that their finances were suffering and those who reported the war having a negative impact on day-to-day life suggests that it is not only material factors that play an important role, the researchers noted.
• “Respondents who experienced reduced financial circumstances are more likely to be long-term supporters of peace. And those who reported the war’s negative impact on everyday life are even more likely to be in favor of peace,” the study said.
• In addition, 40% of those surveyed said they were working more — and only 6% less — than 3-4 years ago. Political scientist and researcher on the Khroniki project Vsevolod Benderson said this showed many people have the feeling they “began to do more work, but did not see their lives improve.

Why the world should care

The war in Ukraine has profoundly changed Russian society. This latest data does not back up the propaganda claims of a society united. On the contrary, research points to a deteriorating quality of life, increased anxiety and declining material comfort for a significant proportion of Russians. That’s a sharp contrast with the official narrative about how the invasion made society stronger and more united.