The concern among Germans regarding a potential Russian military strike has notably decreased, according to a survey conducted by the opinion research institute Insa for “Bild am Sonntag”.
The survey found that only 38 percent of respondents currently feel worried about Russia militarily attacking Germany in the near future, marking a decline of 14 percentage points compared to the figures recorded in September 2025. Furthermore, the proportion of people reporting no such worry rose significantly by twelve percentage points, reaching 50 percent, while 12 percent offered no comment.
However, respondents expressed much greater skepticism regarding Germany’s defense capability. The poll indicates that only 17 percent believe that the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) can sufficiently defend the country should an attack occur, with 72 percent holding a pessimistic view and 11 percent stating they were unsure.
Expectations of military support from the United States also appear subdued. Only 35 percent of those surveyed believe that the United States would militarily support Germany in the event of an attack. In contrast, 43 percent do not anticipate such help, and 22 percent provided no response.
Nevertheless, the threat of Russian cyberattacks, espionage, or sabotage remains a significant concern. Sixty-six percent of respondents fear that such operations could negatively impact life in Germany in the future, while 22 percent do not share this outlook and 12 percent were unsure.
For this survey, Insa interviewed 1,005 individuals between May 21 and May 22, 2026.
