How the survey was conducted

The Russian Speakers in Finland 2024 survey (as well as the original 2022 survey) was conducted at the request of the Cultura Foundation by Innolink Group Oy.

The study is based on 1,000 responses. The 2022 dataset contains 1,632 responses. In the first Russian Speakers in Finland study in 2022, the sample size was increased to allow for a more reliable analysis of the results separately for the largest cities. For the follow‑up study, a sample size of one thousand responses was chosen, as this number still provides a comprehensive and representative view of the opinions of the Russian-speaking population group.

The target group was formed using random sampling. Random sampling ensured that the picture emerging from the study was reliable and the results would not be distorted or biased. The phone interview method is a suitable way of forming a nationally representative sample that is easy to control in terms of quality.

The data collection for the study was conducted through telephone interviews in Russian from April to June 2024.

The survey’s contact information register was gained from the population information system of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

The sample was formed to be representative on the regional level in terms of the central demographic factors (age, sex). This information was gained automatically from the respondent register. The entire respondent register was selected from the population register based on Russia being marked as the language spoken by the respondents.

The phone interviews were conducted in Russian by professional Russian‑speaking interviewers living in Finland. In both 2022 and 2024, the primary responsible interviewer was the same.

The respondents’ contact information and responses were processed securely and their anonymity was ensured.

702 individuals declined to participate in the survey, resulting in a non‑response rate of 41 per cent. In the 2022 study, the non-response rate was 23 per cent. The non-response rate has thus increased significantly compared to two years ago.

Among those who declined to be interviewed, there were relatively more women and slightly more residents of Southern Finland.

Most of the non‑respondents did not present a particular reason for declining the interview (56% of the non-respondents, see graph 1). Among others, the most commonly cited reasons for declining were not speaking or not wanting to speak Russian, lack of time, or lack of interest in participating in the study. In 2022, respondents were given the option to answer the interview in Finnish if they wished, but this option was not offered anymore in 2024. In 2022, there were some individuals who responded in Finnish. In 2024 however, it was deemed reasonable to include only those interviews in the sample where the interviewee speaks Russian and is thus factually Russian-speaking.

The high proportion of non‑respondents is likely to affect the interpretation of the results, as those who declined are probably the most suspicious or least trusting. The increase in the proportion of non-respondents can also be interpreted as indicating a rise in suspicion within the Russian-speaking population group. Since the start of the large-scale war of aggression initiated by Russia, response rates to surveys have been low in Russia.^[9] Similar patterns of behaviour and thought have likely also influenced Russian speakers residing in Finland, although the response rate was still relatively high during the first round of the survey conducted in the spring of 2022. Interviewers described the difference between the 2022 and 2024 implementations as a significant reduction in emotional intensity: in 2022, interviews involved crying, laughter, and emotional expressions. Such behaviour was clearly observed to be less frequent in 2024. This may suggest that the lower non‑response rate in 2022 could partly be explained by people's need and desire to express their emotions and discuss their thoughts about the war with someone.

According to the interviewers, the target group wanted to know exactly who was conducting the study, and many respondents discovered the Cultura Foundation's website. For some, it was crucial to discover that the Cultura Foundation is a Finnish organization before they agreed to participate in the interview. Others, even after reviewing the Cultura Foundation's website, still did not want to participate in the interview.

During the implementation of the telephone interviews, there was also some response dropout, meaning interruptions in answering or not responding to certain questions. Thus, the number of responses to different questions and the individual statements or targets being assessed can vary significantly. Different sample sizes will be noted when discussing the results. In certain areas, the analysis also looked into the types of individuals who had specifically chosen not to respond some of the questions.