According to social surveys, the majority of Russian society as a whole supported the President’s decision to hold the special military operation (in what follows, the SMO). However, the level of this support appeared to be diff erent for diff erent social groups. It turned out, for example, that, compared with society in general, young people perceived the outbreak of hostilities more skeptical and critical. In this regard, this article is devoted to the analysis of the features and factors of formation of such an attitude of young people towards the SMO. Among other things, the views of young people about the causes of the outbreak of the confl ict, its perpetrators and possible solutions are considered; the reaction of young citizens of the country to the entry into Russia of four new subjects, partial mobilization, as well as those who evade it is presented. Patterns are indicated according to which people’s media preferences aff ect the nature of their assessments of events within the framework of SMO. Probable reasons for the more skeptical attitude of the younger generation to what is happening are identifi ed, and possible options for its further transformation in the short and long terms are indicated.