The survey was conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS, kiis.com.ua) jointly with the Rating Sociological Group (ratinggroup.ua) in April 2016.

Almost all residents of Kirovohrad are aware that the city is to be renamed as part of the “decommunization” process. The vast majority of city residents (67%) do not support the renaming, including 43% who are категорically opposed. Only about one in four residents (28%) view it positively.

A majority of residents (57%) most strongly support keeping the current name “Kirovohrad.” About one third (31%) would prefer the name “Yelysavethrad.” Only 4% support the name “Kropyvnytskyi.” If the option “Kirovohrad” is excluded from the list of proposed names, a majority (55%) choose “Yelysavethrad.” In that case, “Kropyvnytskyi” ranks second with 8% support.

An overwhelming majority of the population (82%) do not support the decision of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Building, Regional Policy, and Local Self-Government to rename the city “Kropyvnytskyi.” Only 14% support this decision. Among those who oppose the renaming to “Kropyvnytskyi,” one quarter say they would be willing to take part in protests against it.