MOSCOW. Dec 27 (Interfax) - Gazprom's decision to sharply raise the price for gas supplied to Ukraine, pushing it up to the world level, was backed by 80% of Russian citizens, with 57% of them supporting this decision fully and 23% being more or less in favor. Eleven percent oppose this decision, the All-Russia Public Opinion Center (VTSIOM) reported on Tuesday.

A poll conducted by VTSIOM suggests that this decision received the highest support in Moscow and in St.Petersburg (94%.)

Forty-nine percent of those polled said the increase was due to rising world prices. From 22% to 25% named other reasons. Some argued that Ukraine is a sovereign state which must rely on its own resources, others said that the decision was made in response to Ukraine's unfriendly policies, or that Russia must export gas at world prices to all countries whichever policies they might pursue, while still others said Russia needs the proceeds from gas exports to solve its own social problems.

Forty-four percent of opponents of this decision said they feel sorry for ordinary Ukrainian citizens, 30% said they have friendly feelings toward Ukraine, and 17% fear that Russian-Ukrainian relations may deteriorate. Six percent of those polled said Russia's imperial ambitions stood behind its decision to put pressure on Ukraine, 2% think that this decision will strengthen the United States and other Western countries' positions in Ukraine and raise barriers to Russian gas transit to Europe.

The poll was held in December among 1,600 respondents in 153 populated areas in 46 Russian regions.