Widespread rumors about a Russian army presence in Donbas was a subject of the poll as well. A quarter of those interviewed do not believe that there are Russian military forces in Ukraine, while more than a half (53 percent) responded negatively.
The poll also focused on the information war thought to be conducted amid hostilities in Ukraine. As much as 24 percent of Russians expressed confidence that Russia is conducting an information war against Ukraine, while 64 percent denied this fact.
The Russian majority is convinced that the West and Ukraine conduct an information war against Russia. Some 83 percent of respondents pointed at Ukraine, while 88 percent said it is the United States and the West conducting the information war.
According to the poll, 55 percent look positively at the fact that there may be "Russian volunteers warring alongside the independence fighters in the eastern Ukraine," while 26 percent disapproved.
The poll took place on November 14-17, 2014, among 1,600 people, over 18 years old in 134 Russian cities within 46 regions.
In mid-April Kiev authorities launched a military operation against independence supporters in the Donbas region of Ukraine. The independence supports refused to recognize the new government saying it came to power in February as a result of a coup. According to UN data, the conflict has claimed 4,300 lives, and almost 10,000 people have been wounded. Western and Ukrainian media have named the independence supporters "separatists" and accused Russia of meddling in the Ukrainian conflict.
