The dominant concern for Russians during the third quarter of 2023 was drones, a fear repeatedly highlighted in the press and by researchers analyzing public sentiment. In coverage that cites the National Anxiety Index, commonly referred to as KROS, the focus on drones is presented as the most significant source of worry for many Russians in that period. This conclusion comes from a structured assessment that combines media coverage with real-time chatter across social networks to gauge how fear travels through different channels of information and conversation.
KROS measures worries by looking at two complementary indicators: the media index, which tracks mentions and framing in news outlets, and the social media index, which tracks posts and comments from everyday users. The overall or total anxiety index aggregates these signals to reveal how strong an information wave is around a given topic. A secondary measure, the survival index, compares social media resonance to media coverage to show how intensely ordinary internet users engage with a topic relative to how much it is reported in traditional media.
According to the data for July to September, the total anxiety index related to drone activity stood at 811.1 media units, a figure that researchers describe as a robust and substantial signal. This level is nearly three times higher than the anxiety associated with the ruble’s decline, which registered 273.2 media units, and it also surpasses the combined fear levels of all other tracked topics, which ranged around 713.7 media units. The sheer scale of the drone-related concern highlights how the topic has dominated public discourse and shaped perceptions of safety and stability during that quarter.
In the subsequent rows of the index, a range of other worries appeared alongside drone fear. These included difficulties in travel to Europe, concerns about civil aviation operations, and anxieties about space-related incidents or losses of position in space. Additionally, practical worries surfaced, such as the growing popularity and use of electric scooters, rumors about mobilization, and rising taxi prices. The breadth of topics in the list underscores how the information environment was saturated with both geopolitical and everyday life concerns during that period. There was even mention of Hollywood releases and box office performance during the same timeframe, illustrating how cultural events can intermittently intersect with broader security and social anxiety narratives, as observed by researchers who track news and audience discussions alike.
The prominence of drone fears marks a shift from earlier concerns about sabotage. By the second quarter, broader sabotage fears were more dominant, but as the third quarter unfolded, the focus shifted decisively toward drone-related threats. This progression suggests that the public’s attention was increasingly captured by the immediacy and visibility of drone activity, influencing perceptions of risk and security across the country during that interval. Analysts note that such a shift reflects how evolving security dynamics can reframe collective worry, amplifying certain risks while others recede from the foreground of public concern.
Past incidents that involved air defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles provided context for the ongoing conversation. In one reported episode, Russian air defense reportedly intercepted a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle in a border region adjacent to a prominent nuclear facility. While the specific operational details remain sensitive, experts point to such events as catalysts that intensify public interest and anxiety, reinforcing the perception of ongoing volatility in the security landscape. The connection between military activity and civilian worry is a central theme in the study of public sentiment, illustrating how safety concerns ripple through communities and online spaces alike.