Two thirds of Russians against sending troops to Ukraine

Two thirds of Russians against sending troops to Ukraine

MOSCOW -- Two thirds of Russians are against sending Russian troops to southeastern Ukraine, according to a poll cited by the Itar-Tass news agency.

The pol Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (WCIOM) survey was published on Monday and shows that "66 percent of Russians do not approve of the idea to use Russian troops to cease the military conflict in Ukraine’s southeast."

This share of respondents is mainly comprised of elderly people and residents of big cities, said the agency.

The need of Russia’s military involvement is supported 27 percent.

When asked what events could justify the use of military force, one third of respondents said this was by no means an acceptable option.

At the same time 44 percent expressed readiness to send food, warm clothes and other humanitarian aid, while 21 percent said they would transfer money to special funds to help refugees.

A total of 23 percent said they were not prepared to help.

The poll was conducted June 21-22 and June 28-29, with the margin of error "not exceeding four percent."