I know it's a mental shortcut and if we wanted to be precise it would quickly become unwieldy so just a quick note, also to self, that the Russians I know don't have and don't want to have anything to do with this, are fed up with what is going on and just want to live in peace.
Putin may achieve 80%+ support through rigged elections, but even without rigging, it's likely 60%+. So, it's not a simple dichotomy of the Russian people versus Putin - it's more complex.
That said, I also have Russian friends (many now former Russians) who passionately hate the current government and condemn its actions.
https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/declining-war-suppor...
This is the lowest support for the war in Russia since the beginning. I know the limitations of such polls but there is some truth behind them.
It would be good to hear how many that were in favor of ending the war because it's the right thing to do. Because it's unjust. Because it's an invasion of a sovereign nation. Not just "Because the sanctions make my butter too expensive".
The difference being that if the former number is over 50% that might mean the people would be for change, for new leadership and direction. If the latter is above 50 that just means people want cheaper butter. Perhaps wait a bit and try invading later. Or invade some weaker nation.
From a Russian perspective it’s not at all clear that it’s unjust; Ukraine was persecuting ethnic Russians and the initial claimed purpose of the war was to bring ethnic Russian regions back into Russia.
Tribalism is a powerful reality distortion force.
From what its current regime says for internal and external propaganda purposes.
It's just the regime's funhouse mirror presentation of that perspective.
There's no substance to the "Ukraine was persecuting ethnic Russians" line, in any case.
What matters is -- it's just plain delusional.