The poll for Independence Day is dedicated to the research of Ukrainians` opinions about their emotions and patriotism, attitudes towards the language and different groups of people, factors that unite and divide us and most importantly – the vision of the country`s future.

Mother tongue and language of communication

Almost 60% of respondents usually communicate at home in Ukrainian, about 30% - in Ukrainian and Russian, and only 9% - in Russian. Since March 2022, the use of Russian in everyday life has been noticeably decreasing. For 82% of respondents, Ukrainian is their mother tongue, and for 16% it is Russian. IDPs and refugees abroad more often use both languages for communication or speak Russian. Nevertheless, more than 70% of IDPs and refugees consider Ukrainian their mother tongue.

Emotions

The main emotion that those surveyed feel when thinking about Ukraine is pride (74%). It remains dominant, as it was a year ago. The second emotion is sadness (43%). 17% feel fear when thinking about Ukraine, anger – 13%, joy – 10%, shame – 7%, interest – 5%, indifference – 1%.

Pride is felt more by respondents who are in Ukraine. Emotions of sadness and fear prevail among refugees abroad. Pride is more experienced by the oldest respondents, sadness and fear were more frequently mentioned by middle-aged people. In terms of gender distribution, women spoke relatively more often about pride, sadness and fear, while men spoke more often about anger, joy and shame. People who communicate in Ukrainian or bilingual in everyday life more often speak about the feeling of pride. Sadness was more frequently mentioned by those who communicate in Russian.

Patriotism

Regarding what they consider signs of patriotism, most respondents chose to donate and volunteer (46%) and speak Ukrainian (45%). About a third attributed patriotism to being on the front, staying, working and doing business during the war in Ukraine, and more than a quarter – to be interested in the history of Ukraine. Buying Ukrainian goods, consuming Ukrainian content and engaging in public activities were chosen by 9-14% of respondents. To go to Ukrainian church – 6%, to know the words of the anthem – 4%, to wear Ukrainian symbols – 3%.

The interviewed currently living in Ukraine more often chose to stay, work and do business during the war in Ukraine. Refugees abroad, on the contrary, were relatively more likely to choose the options to donate and volunteer, to be interested in the history of Ukraine, to engage in social activities, and to consume Ukrainian goods and content. Communicating in Ukrainian is equally patriotic for both respondents in Ukraine and refugees abroad.

For the youngest, patriotism is relatively more often manifested in donating and volunteering, serving at the front, being interested in the history of Ukraine and engaging in social activities. For the middle-aged this attribute is to work and do business in Ukraine, for the older ones – to stay in Ukraine. Women more often see patriotism in donations and volunteering, communication in Ukrainian, and men – in serving at the front and staying in Ukraine. It is interesting that Ukrainian-speaking respondents more often mention communication in Ukrainian as a sign of patriotism while Russian-speaking respondents more often mention working and doing business in Ukraine.

Factors of unification and disunification

Victories of the Ukrainian armed forces (65%), reconstruction (49%) and helping each other (40%) can unite Ukrainians the most. Economic growth is a unifying factor for 30% of respondents, language – 25%, EU/NATO accession – 20%, unity of politicians – 15%, culture – 13%, history – 9%, refugee return and religion – 4% each, sports victories – 1%.

Those living in Ukraine more often see the potential for unification in the victories of the AFU. For internally displaced persons and refugees abroad, the factor of recovery and mutual assistance is becoming significant. Culture and the return of refugees are important unification factors for those currently living abroad.

The youngest were more likely to choose mutual aid and culture. Reconstruction and economic growth are important for the young and middle-aged. The elders more often noted the victories of the Ukrainian armed forces, language, accession to the EU/NATO and political unity.

For the residents of the South, East and Donbas, the strong unifying factors are the reconstruction of the country, mutual assistance and the return of refugees. For the residents of the West, Halychyna (Galicia) – language. Accession to the EU/NATO is equally important for both the West, Kyiv and Donbas.

Those who communicate in everyday life only in Ukrainian more often mention the language factor. Victories of the AFU and accession to the EU/NATO were more often chosen by those who speak Ukrainian or two languages.

For those who speak Russian, the unifying factor is economic growth. Restoration and mutual assistance were also more often chosen by those who communicate in Russian and bilinguals. For Ukrainian speakers, it is more often the language, European integration and victories of the Ukrainian armed forces.

Political conflicts (62%) and mutual accusations (59%) may become the greatest threats to the separation of Ukrainians. Economic crisis as a negative factor was named by 35%, lack of recovery, mass departure of Ukrainians abroad, refusal to join the EU/NATO was mentioned by 20-22%, defeats of the AFU, language – 18-19%, religion – 12%, history and culture – 1-2%.

Those living in Ukraine see the threat of disengagement more often in the mass emigration of Ukrainians and the defeats of the AFU. For internally displaced persons and refugees abroad, this factor is the lack of reconstruction. Mutual accusations and language are bigger triggers for disengagement for refugees abroad and Russian speakers. 

For young and middle-aged people, the economic crisis, the mass departure of compatriots and language are relatively more frequent factors of disengagement. For the older ones, it is the refusal to join the EU/NATO.

Residents of the East and Donbas more often speak about the threat of mutual accusations, residents of the West fear differences in religion, and residents of Galicia - regarding language.

Attitudes towards certain groups and categories of the population 

85% of Ukrainians have a warm attitude towards internally displaced persons, another 10% have a neutral attitude, and only 5% have a cold attitude.  

The attitude towards the residents of the occupied territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions is also very positive: 83% - warm, 11% - neutral, and only 5% - cold.

The attitude towards the residents of occupied Crimea is cooler: 46% - warm, 23% - neutral, 31% - cold. The attitude towards the residents of the so-called DNR/LNR is more negative: 59% - cold attitude, 18% - neutral, 22% - warm. The younger ones have a slightly better attitude towards these two categories.

Residents of western regions have a more sinful attitude towards IDPs than others, as well as a colder attitude towards the residents of the so-called DNR/LNR. However, among the natives of Donbas, the attitude towards the residents of the so-called DNR/LNR is less cold than others and rather approaches neutral. Also, residents of the occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea are treated somewhat better than others by refugees who are abroad.

Refugees

In general, the gender of the person who left the country significantly determines the attitude of the society towards him/her. The most positive attitude in the society was formed towards refugee women with children: 83% have a warm attitude towards them, 11% have a neutral one, and only 5% - have a cold one. At the same time, the attitude towards refugee women without children is rather positive-neutral: 47% - warm, 25% - neutral, and 27% - cold.

For men of conscription age who have left, having children also improves their evaluation, but not as significantly as for women: 37% have a warm attitude towards refugee men with children, 26% have a neutral attitude, and 36% have a cold attitude. On the contrary, the attitude towards men who do not have children and have travelled abroad is the most negative: 70% have a cold attitude, 16% - are neutral, and only 13% - are warm. At the same time, the attitude towards men of conscription age who do not serve at the front but stay in Ukraine is more neutral: 39% - warm, 32% - neutral, and 30% - cold.

Attitudes towards older people who have left are also very positive (78% have a warm attitude, 17% have a neutral attitude, and only 6% have a cold attitude), whereas treatment towards refugee students is less positive (60% have a warm attitude, 24% have a neutral attitude, and 16% have a cold attitude).

Internally displaced persons, and especially refugees abroad themselves, have a much more positive attitude towards all these categories.   Those who are now in Ukraine, both women and men, have almost the same attitude towards refugees of different categories. At the same time, there are certain differences among refugees abroad, e.g.: men abroad have normal attitudes towards similar men abroad (with or without children), whereas female refugees have rather negative attitudes towards male refugees without children.

Perception of Ukraine`s future 

69% of Ukrainians believe that in the next 5 years, Ukraine will develop, 21% think that there will be stagnation, and another 10% could not make up their minds. 

Respondents under 40 years old, men, as well as refugees abroad, are more sceptical about the future of Ukraine.

Regarding the value markers, most of those polled want to see Ukraine as a country that: has free medicine (61%) and education (57%), does not sell land to foreigners (57%), a country in which the state (not a person) is responsible for increasing the income of the population (53%), but at the same time with a free market in the economy (58%), a high level of democracy (64%) and media freedom (75%).

The statements about same-sex marriage and employment of migrants from the Middle East remain ambiguous. At the same time, while only one in three admit that same-sex marriages should be legalised (37% - can be allowed, 22% - undecided, 42% - against, while 33% are strongly against), every second admit that migrants can be allowed to work (50% - for, 15% - undecided, 36% - against).

In the formation of optimism about Ukraine's future development, the difference in democracy and responsibility for income is most noticeable: those who are optimistic about Ukraine`s future are less likely to expect help from the state and more likely to agree that people themselves are responsible for increasing their income, and more likely than sceptics to say that Ukraine needs more democracy (as opposed to saying that Ukraine needs a “strong hand”).

Younger respondents than older ones support allowing the sale of land to foreigners, allowing same-sex marriages, and employment of migrants, although there are almost no age differences when it comes to the need to regulate the economy or free market. Men more than women support initiatives of paid education and medicine and, a free economy, at the same time women show more tolerance to same-sex marriages. Also, city dwellers somewhat more (than villagers) support democratic and liberal initiatives. 

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