Thread by @Daractenus

There’s a series of polls conducted by the Russian pollster Levada over a period of several years which, when linked together, I think offer a fairly clear insight into the mysterious Russian soul and just why it is Trump and his supporters find such a kindred spirit in it.🧵

While apparently a lot of people in Africa still hold somewhat of a positive view of Russia, Russians do not at all reciprocate that feeling. Less then 1 in 10 Russians can even conceive having someone from Africa as a family member, neighbor, friend or coworker.

When prompted to judge on the benefits of war they started that left over a million of their own maimed or killed and an endless trail of war crimes in Ukraine, Russians seem rather equally split on it, with a third still yet to make up their mind about the whole affair.

When it comes to the Central Asian immigrants, the people that are pretty much keeping whatever is left of the Russian economy alive, or just immigrant in general really, most Russians have a hard time seeing them as anything but cheap labor that is to be abused and exploited.

While the Russian opposition constantly claims there is a silent majority that feels compassion and sympathy for Ukrainians, these surveys spanning across the past 6 years paint an image much more in line with the war crimes regular Russians are committing daily in Ukraine.

Four years into the war and too many war crimes to count, only 14% of Russians can look at the contract murderers called "Russian soldiers" with anything other than deep respect, sincere admiration or warm sympathy.

Being a rather good Russian ally and more or less keeping the Russian economy alive didn't seem to have made that much of a difference on how most Russians feel towards the Chinese people.

Only about 3 out of every 10 good Christians of Russia would have an issue with the capital punishment, with the rest either not caring or being very much in favor of it, despite fully knowing just what kind of a justice system Russia has.

While it's widely claimed that young Russians are different and a reason for hope given they aren't as indoctrinated by Kremlin's brainwashing machine, it turns out they're the least likely Russians to actually have an issue with or oppose the use of torture.

While I am sure disapproving was not much of an option here, notice just how many Russians chose to go with a wholeheartedly "Definitely Approve", instead of a milder but still safe "Rather approve".

With most Russians inclined to believe to one degree or another the Kremlin narrative of a woke, decadent and collapsing Western world, the majority of them would still very much prefer to live in it, all while simultaneously advocating for invading or destroying it.

When asked what best use Russia should make of the "skills" acquired by their soldiers when they return home, some 17%, corresponding to about 25 million Russians, said those so called soldiers should be educating children...