Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has experienced a substantial increase in his popularity among Russians.
A survey done by the Levada-Center (a non-governmental research organisation), found that approval of all the major state institutions, including the president, has increased. “significantly increased”.
“In March, the approval of the main state institutions increased significantly. 83 percent approve of the activities of the president, 71 percent of the prime minister, 70 percent of the government, and 59 percent of the state Duma,” he says.
For their part, the number of people who felt the country was heading in the wrong direction had dropped from 38% to 22% in February to 22% by March. While, 69% believe that the invasion in Ukraine is correct.
Amnesty International (NGO) denounces this Friday the use of “cruel siege warfare tactics” by Russian troops in Ukraine. These include “indiscriminate attacks on densely populated areas” that are “unlawful killings and maimings of civilians in the territory.
According to the group, these attacks can include “alteration of basic service, communication cuts and destruction civil infrastructure”, along with “restrictions on access medicines and medical care”.
AI reported that Russian forces have used weaponry with inherently indiscriminate effect, such as cluster munitions and low precision weapons with wide-area effects, (…) to attack densely populated regions in recent weeks.