Even Those over 60, Age Cohort Most Supportive of Putin, Now Depressed and Worried, New Poll Finds

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Sept. 23 – More than half of all Russians over age 60 and the cohort most supportive of Vladimir Putin are now depressed and worried, according to a study prepared by the Russian Academy of Economics and State Service on the basis of data gathered by Rosstat, the government’s statistical agency.

            Fifty-four percent of the elderly said they were now depressed and worried, although a further study concluded that more were depressed and seriously so than claim to be (kommersant.ru/doc/7179947 and moscowtimes.ru/2024/09/23/rossiyane-starshe-60-let-massovo-pozhalovalis-na-depressiyu-i-trevogu-a142872).

            Women, those over 80, those living alone, those having less education, and those with lower incomes tended to be more depressed than others, according to the researchers. That pattern suggests that much of the depression and worry is driven by these demographic and economic patterns.

            But one observers, Nina Ostanina, the KPRF member who heads the Duma committee that deals with the elderly, suggests that the war in Ukraine also plays a role. She says older Russians are worried about how things are going but predicted that “after victory,” the share feeling that way will decline.

            She could be right, but the figures now being reported suggest as well that there has been a softening in support for Putin and his war among the age group most people assume will always be in the Kremlin leader’s corner and will always support his aggressive policies in Ukraine and elsewhere.