Strikes Deep Into Russian Federation Have Caused A Sharp Rise In Panic Among Russians

• 16.05.2026, 14:42

Attention from the front has shifted to the domestic situation.

Ukrainian strikes on the regions of the Russian Federation for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale war have become more worrying for Russians than military actions on the territory of Ukraine. This is evidenced by the results of a poll conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation on May 1-3, writes Dialog.UA.

According to the survey, 18% of Russians named Ukrainian shelling as the main topic of the week, while the topic of "SWO" was mentioned by 16% of respondents.

Sociologist Vladimir Zvonovsky emphasized: this is the first time this has happened since the war began. Russians' public interest in the topic of attacks deep inside the Russian Federation began to grow as early as 2023, when Ukrainian UAVs began to fly to Belgorod and Moscow.

And after effective strikes on oil depots and energy facilities, this indicator continued to grow.

By the end of April 2026, Ukrainian strikes worried already 15% of Russians. Against this background, problems with fuel and airport operations were recorded in the Russian Federation.

The recent attacks on an oil depot in Tuapse also led to environmental consequences. They, in turn, drew more public attention to the war inside the aggressor country.