A survey by an independent Russian polling organization shows that the public in the country is divided over whether Moscow should continue its military actions in Ukraine or engage in peace negotiations.

The Levada-Center has been conducting face-to-face interviews with more than 1,600 people in Russia toward the end of every month since the invasion of Ukraine began. The center released the results of August's survey on Thursday.

In the poll, 48 percent of the respondents said the military actions should continue, while 44 percent said peace negotiations should be started. More than half of the respondents under 40 were in favor of peace negotiations.

Thirty percent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 24 said they do not support the actions of the Russian military.

The Levada-Center was designated a foreign agent by the administration of Vladimir Putin in 2016. The center continues to conduct independent research and analysis, despite pressure from the authorities.