Half of Russians want to send Ukrainian refugees back

Moscow, September 29 (Novy Region, Olga Meshcheriakova) – Sociologists report that within several months the opinion of the respondents regarding the policies of the Russian government on Ukrainian refugees has changed. According to a survey by VTsIOM conducted on September 20-21 in 130 Russian localities among 1600 respondents, the number of Russians who stand for providing for the immigrants from Ukraine with all things necessary and creating good living conditions for them has decreased (40% as opposed to 50% in July). 45% of the respondents (39% in July) claim the refugees should be sent back to Ukraine, as soon as the conditions are favorable. Another 7% want to stop accepting refugees on Russian territory and send back those who have already arrived as soon as possible. 53% of Russians support the idea of a simplified citizenship procedure for Ukrainian refugees. For the most part they are respondents who do not note the presence of refugees in their town/village (66%) and those who think that there are many (41%). One-third of the respondents are again the idea (36%), first and foremost those who note a significant influx of refugees in their region (48%). Two-thirds of respondents report that their locality has refugees from Ukraine (67%). This response is most frequently given by residents in big cities (52%). One out of five (18%) thinks that there are no immigrants from Ukraine in their locality (43% villagers and 2% Moscow and Petersburg citizens). The majority of respondents (67%) are convinced that Russia lends all possible assistance to the Ukrainian refugees today. Meanwhile, one out of four (24%) thinks that the work in this direction is excessively active. First and foremost, this opinion is characteristic of respondents with low incomes (30%) and those whose localities house many refugees (28%). Only 4% think that Russia is insufficient in its support of Ukrainian refugees.