A survey revealed that a large number of Russian residents believe in house spirits and psychics
A new poll by the VTsIOM analytical center has revealed Russian society’s deep immersion in mysticism and belief in supernatural forces.
Most Russian citizens use their belief in spirits as a “protective shield,” attempting to offset their fear of external threats and vulnerability caused by military actions.
Russians place the greatest trust in deities and forces believed to provide protection in dangerous situations.
Two-thirds of respondents acknowledge the existence of saints or higher powers that protect people in battle or on the road.
More than half of respondents believe in specific spirits that watch over soldiers exclusively, a belief directly linked to the current state of Russian society.
The need for protection extends to the domestic sphere, where every other Russian acknowledges the existence of a domovik—a spirit that acts as the guardian of the home.
Researchers note that collective fear of natural disasters has shifted to anxiety for loved ones, children, and animals. This is why belief in spirits that protect the family is significantly higher than in traditional spirits of nature or the harvest.
Magical practices have also become an integral part of everyday life in Russia, where six out of ten people visit “healing” springs.
One in two Russians regularly reads horoscopes or consults astrologers, hoping to gain control over their own destiny.
More than a third of citizens resort to fortune-telling, and one in four constantly wears amulets, talismans, and magical jewelry.
Interestingly, belief in the supernatural has a distinct age-related pattern: the older the respondent, the more likely they are to believe in mystical beings.
At the same time, the practice of magical rituals is universal and remains consistently high across all age groups.
Religious affiliation only reinforces these beliefs, as 90% of Orthodox Russians practice at least one form of magical ritual.
The least stable is belief in folklore characters, such as forest spirits or mermaids, whom most people perceive only as fairy-tale archetypes.
As a reminder, the Kremlin is preparing Russians for a failed spring offensive.
Additionally, Russians are experiencing increased levels of depression due to economic problems and the end of the war.
