Almost Half of Russians Fear Syria Will Lead to World War III With the West

Russian defence spokesman
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov speaks during a news briefing on the situation in Syria at the Russian Defense Ministry, Moscow, Russia, October 7. Maxim Zmeyev/Reuters

Almost half of Russians have concerns that the worsening ties with the West regarding the war in Syria could lead to World War III, according to Russian independent pollster Levada Center.

Russia, which has been backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with airstrikes since last fall, has failed to convince Western partners to unite forces behind the brutal and embattled leader for the sake of combating jihadist extremists.

The U.S., France and others have accused Russia of indiscriminately targeting civilians and opposition groups, while Russia has accused the U.S. of siding with anti-Assad extremists.

The uptick in rhetoric has worried Russians, with 48 percent of those polled indicating they are either "greatly concerned" or "somewhat concerned" that the increase in tension could lead to World War III. This is the highest rate of concern that a global conflict is impending since the height of fighting in Ukraine in summer 2014, when 54 percent of Russians felt that way.

Russians are also divided on whether or not involvement in Syria worsened the international attitude towards Russia. The poll shows that 32 percent felt it had worsened the treatment of Russia internationally, 21 percent felt it had improved it, and 26 percent found it difficult to respond.

However, the majority of Russians (52 percent) have a positive opinion of the Russian operation in Syria, while 26 have a "somewhat negative" or "entirely negative" opinion.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


I am a Staff Writer for Newsweek's international desk. I report on current events in Russia, the former Soviet Union ... Read more

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go