Most Russians believe that the current cease-fire in Ukraine will eventually give way to renewed military action, a poll by the independent Levada Center showed Tuesday.
The poll's publication on Tuesday came as shelling in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk killed at least two people and injured at least seven others, RIA Novosti reported, citing a representative of the separatist Donetsk People's Republic.
A spate of similar incidents in recent months, as Ukrainian troops conduct counter-terrorism operations against the pro-Russian separatists in the east, have apparently impacted the prognoses of ordinary Russians. Fifty-five percent of respondents to the Levada Center poll said they believed that the cease-fire would end with renewed military activity, compared with 46 percent who said the same thing in an earlier poll on the same subject.
Only 21 percent of respondents to the latest poll said they believed the cease-fire would end with both sides signing a deal for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Another 25 percent expressed difficulty answering the question.
As for how Russia should hypothetically respond to any spike in military activity in eastern Ukraine, most respondents to the survey were opposed to military intervention. Fifty-eight percent responded negatively to the question, with 26 percent saying Russia should definitely not intervene and another 32 percent saying Russia should "probably" not intervene.
The poll also revealed that the majority of Russians believe Moscow should recognize the sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and nearby Luhansk People's Republic, with 65 percent in favor. Only 12 percent said Moscow should not recognize the self-proclaimed republics, and another 23 percent of respondents expressed difficulty answering.
In response to a question on Ukraine's own status as a nation, 41 percent of respondents said Ukraine does not have its own history, and another 41 percent said it has a longstanding history.
The poll, conducted on Nov. 14-17 among 1,600 adults across the country, had a margin of error of no more than 3.4 percent.
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