Levada's poll: Russians believe in strategic importance of Black Sea Fleet

24.06.2010 77% Russians consider Black Sea Fleet (BSF) is of real military strategic importance, say results of the poll conducted by Levada Center.

Meanwhile, 14% respondents suppose that BSF is more likely of symbolic significance and reminds of imperial era. The opinion that Russia's Black Sea Fleet constitutes strategic importance is mostly said by Russian men of 25-54 with higher and specialized secondary education, and residents of cities with population of 100-500 thousands. The fleet is perceived as an element of superpower by inhabitants of Moscow. The question mostly floored Russian women of 18-24 and elder than 54 with lower than secondary education and low user status.

On the other hand, answers on question "Which enemy could BSF oppose to defend Russia" are ranked as follows:

NATO – 37%
Georgia – 22%
The U.S. – 10%
Turkey – 5%
Ukraine – 3%
other – 3%

Along with that, 64% Russians welcome the gas-fleet agreement with Ukraine; 19% shake head at it; 17% were undecided. The opinion that Russia-Ukraine relations would be improved in the nearest years is supported by 52% respondents; will be maintained at achieved level – 27%; will gradually return 1-2 years back – 9%; and only 3% Russians suppose the relations with Ukraine would become worse than 1-2 years ago.

The answer that Russian-Ukrainian relations would face a certain warming is most popular among Russians elder than 55 with higher education and intermediate user status. Maintaining of achieved level of bilateral relations is expected mostly by respondents of 25-39 with secondary education and high income level.

In May 21-25, 2010 the Analytic Center of Yury Levada (Levada-Center) held a representative poll of 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older living in 130 population centers of 46 Russian regions. The answers are rated in percentage of total number of pollees. Statistical error of the given opinion survey does not exceed 3.4%.