“… The collapse of the Soviet Union and the loss of superpower status was … humiliating … Putin has played on [that] with actions like the annexation of Crimea and the war in Syria, to restore some sense of national pride. However, a … Levada Center [poll] this month found that Russians continue to be ashamed of their ‘eternal poverty’ and living standards …. Russians take pride in their country’s history and the past (53% versus 37% in mid-2015), the country’s territory (35% versus 44%) and their place of birth (33% versus 41%). … For the ‘eternal poverty and insecurity’ of Russia, a sense of shame is experienced by 61% (in 2015 – 56%) …. Similar feelings towards the collapse of the USSR were expressed by 45% (28%) … “