Latest news with #VCIOM
The Star
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
77 pct of Russian internet users have played video games: survey
MOSCOW, June 6 (Xinhua) -- A recent survey conducted by the Russian government-owned research center VCIOM found that 77 percent of active internet users in Russia have played video games, reflecting a more widespread global trend. As of 2025, the global gaming community has expanded to around 3.32 billion players, showing a significant rise from previous years. In fact, video gaming has become an increasingly popular hobby for both the younger and older generations. Of the 77 percent of Russians who have played video games, 44 percent consider themselves active players, while 33 percent say they used to play but no longer do. This shows that while gaming is widespread, almost half of the respondents continue to play on a daily basis. In Russia, gaming is predominantly favored by men and younger adults, especially those that are financially stable. In contrast, women, older adults and those with lower incomes tend to have less gaming experience. A distinctive feature of the Russian gaming landscape is the fact that personal computers remain the most popular gaming platform. The findings of the poll show that 82 percent of gamers use a computer or laptop to play games. A total of 63 percent of the respondents use mobile phones, while 27 percent use tablets, and 27 percent consoles. Russian mobile games are also becoming more popular among the population. The number of transactions on RuStore, Russia's official application store, has nearly doubled over the past year, with 60 percent of payments linked to domestic games, Ilya Ulyanov, the director of business development at RuStore, told Russian media Izvestia. The improvement of the quality of games, the growth of the diversity of in-game content and the development of convenient payment methods are causing the growth of its domestic games, said Ulyanov, the income of Russian indie developers in RuStore increased four times in the first quarter of 2025 from the same period last year. Although fewer people use consoles than mobile phones, console gaming remains a promising sector. For those Russians that do use consoles, they note that they offer a way to unwind and spend time with family and friends. PlayStation remains the most popular console, according to the report.
Russia Today
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russian airport gets historic ‘Stalingrad' name back
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree officially renaming Volgograd International Airport as 'Stalingrad'. The name change comes in response to a request from veterans of the Second World War and the Ukraine conflict, as well as local officials. 'In order to immortalize the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, I hereby decree… to assign Volgograd International Airport the historic name 'Stalingrad',' read the decree published by the Kremlin press service on Tuesday. The Great Patriotic War is the Russian term referring to the period from June 22, 1941, to May 9, 1945, during which the Soviet Union fought against Nazi Germany on the Eastern Front. The airport renaming in Volgograd comes less than two weeks before Russia celebrates 80 years since the victory over the Nazis. The city of Volgograd itself has kept its name despite the idea of reverting to the Soviet-era title of Stalingrad repeatedly being mooted in recent years. The city was the site of one of the fiercest battles of World War II, which historians believe changed the course of the conflict in the Soviet Union's favor and paved the way for the ultimate defeat of the Nazis. From 1925 until 1961, the city and its airport were named Stalingrad in honor of Joseph Stalin. In 1961, they were renamed as Volgograd after the river on whose banks they are located. There have been at least two major efforts to bring back the name Stalingrad, in 2013 and 2021, led mainly by the Communist Party. Over the past ten years, the city has occasionally used the name Stalingrad during ceremonies honoring wartime sacrifices as a gesture of respect. The presidential administration previously urged caution over calls to rename Volgograd as Stalingrad. Critics of the idea have argued that the step would provide a boost to Stalinists. The former Soviet leader remains a controversial figure in Russia, with some willing to overlook his role in repressing the population for the sake of his perceived achievements as a statesman. A 2023 survey by the state-run pollster VCIOM found that around 67% of Volgograd residents were wary of the name change and preferred retaining the city's current name.
Russia Today
16-04-2025
- General
- Russia Today
Most Russians feel ‘happy'
Almost 80% of Russians feel happy despite the external challenges, according to a nationwide poll released on Wednesday. The survey by state pollster VCIOM suggests that the overall sense of wellbeing among the population remains robust, with only the proportion of individuals identifying as absolutely or moderately happy fluctuating from month to month. In its latest poll, which surveyed some 1,600 Russians over the age of 18 last month, VCIOM asked the respondents: 'There are good and bad things in life, but overall, would you say you are happy?' READ MORE: Russia achieves lowest ever infant mortality rate – Mishustin The pollster found that 79% of Russians described themselves as 'happy in one way or another,' with more than a third (36%) saying they were 'absolutely happy.' 'As recent years have shown, happiness levels in Russia have remained surprisingly resilient in the face of external shocks,' the pollster noted. VCIOM cited the Covid-19 pandemic, which it claims did not lead to widespread despondency, as proof of 'the psychological resilience of the population.' According to the latest World Happiness Report, meanwhile, Russia ranked 66th among the 147 countries surveyed last year. Finland was reported as the happiest and Afghanistan the least happy. READ MORE: Many Russians oppose women as bosses – survey Among European nations, the unhappiest was Ukraine, which also ranked 111th globally. The World Happiness Report is an annual publication that measures global contentment based on life evaluations, social support, freedom of choice, GDP per capita, and additional indicators of wellbeing. The data is drawn from the Gallup World Poll and various supplementary sources.
Russia Today
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Half of Russians favor return of death penalty
Nearly half of all Russians are in favor of reinstating the death penalty, according to a survey published by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) on Wednesday. The death penalty was initially suspended in Russia in 1996 when the country sought to join the Council of Europe. In 1999, Russia's Constitutional Court placed a moratorium on the measure and extended it indefinitely in 2009. Legally, however, the practice has never been fully abolished. After Moscow withdrew from the Council of Europe in 2022, debates around lifting the moratorium were reignited among Russian politicians, lawmakers, and public figures. In its latest study, which surveyed some 1,600 Russians over the age of 18 earlier this month, VCIOM found that capital punishment was still a significant issue for most respondents (73%). It also reported that the number of those for whom the topic is 'extremely important' has grown from 28% in 2010 to 36% in 2025. According to the poll, nearly half of respondents (49%) said they were in favor of reinstating the death penalty while only around a quarter (26%) said it would be better to maintain a moratorium. Just 15% of respondents argued that capital punishment should be completely abolished, while 10% said they were unsure. Pollsters noted that the older the respondents were, the more likely they were to support reinstating the death penalty. Among those born between 1948 and 1967, 62% argued in favor of lifting the moratorium. Retaining the moratorium saw the most support among those born between 1982 and 2000, while the complete abolishment of the measure was mostly backed by those born after 2001. The topic of the death penalty remains a point of contention in Russian society, although President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that it would not be reintroduced. In December, he stressed that despite public calls to return the measure, Moscow is not seeking to bring back capital punishment and is instead looking to further liberalize the national penal code in order to reduce the number of convicts. A number of Russian lawmakers have also pointed out that returning the death penalty would be legally impossible as the ban was issued by the Constitutional Court, whose decisions cannot be overturned by either chamber of Russia's parliament. The head of Russia's Constitutional Court, Valery Zorkin, has explained that under the Russian Constitution, everyone has the right to life and therefore is guaranteed 'the right not to be sentenced to death.' He has suggested that the return of the measure would require the adoption of a new constitution.
Russia Today
17-02-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Many Russians oppose women as bosses
One-third of Russians prefer male bosses, while just 3% favor female managers, according to a nationwide poll released on Monday, though most respondents said professional competence matters more than gender. The survey by state pollster VCIOM found that 61% of respondents prioritized personal qualities and competence over gender when considering managers. Nearly half of those polled (48%) believed men have stronger leadership predispositions compared to 8% who saw women as better suited for leadership roles. Another 34% saw no correlation between gender and leadership capability. READ MORE: Russians falling out of love with Valentine's Day – survey The poll indicated about half of Russians view traditionally female-dominated sectors like education, healthcare, and beauty services as more appropriate for women leaders. VCIOM conducted the poll two weeks ago via telephone interviews with 1,600 respondents aged 18 and over, with a margin of error not exceeding 2.5%. The survey highlights common perceptions about the intrinsic qualities of men and women, which could be seen as stereotypes. Many Russians view men as naturally possessing leadership traits like decisiveness and physical strength, while women are seen as responsible and morally resilient – qualities linked to family roles. Fields like management, technology, engineering, and science are rarely considered 'female' domains, despite the significant successes of women in these areas. The younger generation, namely those born since 2001, were most indifferent to the gender of their boss. Having grown up in an environment where gender equality is openly discussed and female leaders are more visible, they tend to prioritize skills and competence over traditional gender roles, notes VCIOM. READ MORE: Abortion rate in Russia falls 3.5-fold in decade – Health Ministry Several women currently hold high-ranking positions in the Russian government. Valentina Matvienko has served as the chairwoman of the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, since 2011, making her one of the most prominent political figures in the country. Other notable female officials include Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova and Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, who has led Russia's monetary policy since 2013. The well-known editor-in-chief of RT, Margarita Simonyan, is also a woman.
