Kyiv residents on the development of the capital and Ukraine

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27.06.2017

Kyiv residents on the development of the capital and Ukraine

According to a survey conducted by Rating Group on behalf of Focus magazine, more than 70% of Kyiv residents say they would take part in mayoral elections if they were held in the near future, while 23% say they would not and 5% are undecided.
If the mayoral election were held now, Vitalii Klitschko would receive 39.4% of the vote among those intending to participate. Boryslav Bereza would get 8.5%, Volodymyr Bondarenko 5.9%, Oleksandr Omelchenko 4.6%, and Tetiana Montian 2.4%. All other candidates are below 2%. About one quarter of respondents remain undecided.
Almost half of Kyiv residents believe the city is moving in the wrong direction, 30% say it is moving in the right direction, and one quarter cannot assess the situation.
More than 40% are satisfied with the performance of Mayor Vitalii Klitschko, while about half are dissatisfied and 8% are undecided. Compared to 2016, satisfaction has increased from 35% to 43%.
Only 22% are satisfied with the Kyiv City Council, while over 60% are dissatisfied. Communal services receive even worse ratings: only one in five residents is satisfied, while more than 70% are dissatisfied.
The cost of коммунальні послуги (utilities) is the biggest concern for 60% of Kyiv residents. Nearly two thirds are worried about rising crime and drug or alcohol abuse. Around 30% point to illegal construction, a quarter to poor road conditions, and about one fifth to low quality of medical care and high public transport fares.
Among young people, the most pressing issues are drug and alcohol abuse, poor funding of schools, lack of parking spaces, shortages in kindergartens, stray animals, and lack of sports facilities. Middle-aged respondents more often mention bad roads, traffic congestion, and street vending. Older residents are more concerned about crime, poor quality of medical services, public transport, sidewalks, street lighting, and the condition of housing.
Forty-seven percent say the visa-free regime with the EU is important to them personally, the same share say it is not.
Sixty-two percent believe Ukraine should join the European Union, 5% support joining the Customs Union, about one fifth support a neutral position between the EU and Russia, and 12% are undecided.
If a referendum on NATO membership were held today, 55% would support it, 18% would oppose it, 10% would not vote, and 17% are undecided. Support for visa-free travel, EU membership, and NATO is stronger among younger people and those with higher incomes.
Sixty percent support restricting economic relations with Russia, while about one quarter support maintaining or expanding them. About half support introducing a visa regime with Russia, while almost 40% oppose it.
Fifty-six percent support ending the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) only after full restoration of Ukrainian control over Donbas. Smaller shares support broader autonomy, federalization, or separation.
Fifty-three percent support the trade blockade of the self-proclaimed DNR/LNR territories.
Sixty percent believe Ukraine should use all possible means to return Crimea, while a quarter think the country should accept its annexation.
Views on the Minsk agreements are divided: 36% want new agreements, 13% support full implementation, nearly 20% favor withdrawing from negotiations, and more than 30% are undecided.
Victory Day on May 9 remains personally meaningful for 84% of respondents. International Women’s Day (March 8) is personally meaningful for 70%, and May 1 is meaningful for almost half.
More than 70% oppose granting Russian the status of a state language. Nearly 70% do not regret the collapse of the Soviet Union, though about one fifth do.
Fifty-four percent support banning the St. George ribbon, while over 30% oppose it. In contrast, only one quarter support banning Russian websites, while a majority oppose it.
About one third of Kyiv residents receive utility subsidies, and another quarter intend to apply. Public opinion is split between keeping subsidies and shifting support toward energy-efficiency assistance.
Seventy-seven percent use the Internet at least once a week.
Facebook is used by 61%, VKontakte by 34%, Odnoklassniki by 33%, Twitter by 16%, and Instagram by 13%. People with lower incomes use VKontakte and Odnoklassniki more, while higher-income users prefer Facebook.