National identity of Ukrainians

According to respondents, the most important aspect of being Ukrainian is one's own self-identification (95%).

An overwhelming majority (90%) said that being a citizen of Ukraine matters to them personally. Other important markers of Ukrainian identity included:

• Sense of responsibility for the country's situation – 92%
• Respect for its laws and political system – 89%
• Engagement with Ukrainian culture – 88%
• Use of the Ukrainian language – 80%
• Long-term residence in Ukraine – 74%
• Ukrainian nationality – 69%
• Being born in Ukraine – 67%
• Christian faith – 48%, the least important marker.

Civic, local and European identity

Respondents identify most strongly as citizens of Ukraine (an average score of 9.1 out of 10 points).

Local identity follows at 8.1 points, and European identity at 5.0 points. Civic identity remains high, though it is still below its April 2022 peak of 9.7 points.

Understanding of patriotism

Respondents most often named law-abiding conduct (39%) and defending democracy, rights and freedoms (36%) as markers of patriotism.

Preserving Ukrainian culture also ranked highly (33%), while military service and use of the Ukrainian language were each named by 24%.

Historical figures

Asked to name the three greatest Ukrainians of all time, respondents most often named:

• Taras Shevchenko – over 60%
• Lesya Ukrainka – 28.4%
• Bohdan Khmelnytsky – 15.9%
• Stepan Bandera – 11%
• Volodymyr Zelensky – 10.4%

Among a list of historical figures presented for evaluation, the most positively rated were:

• Bohdan Khmelnytsky – 90% positive
• Mykhailo Hrushevsky – 84%
• Ivan Mazepa – 82%
• Stepan Bandera – 74%

Warriors across different eras

Respondents expressed strong support for:

• Soldiers of the modern Armed Forces of Ukraine – 98%
• Soviet fighters of World War II – 87%
• UPA fighters – 74%
• Soldiers of the UNR and ZUNR – 64%

82% support recognizing the OUN-UPA as fighters for Ukraine's independence, up sharply from 45% in 2019.

Historical questions and legacy

On Russian and Soviet cultural products, 45% support banning only those containing direct anti-Ukrainian propaganda, 33% favor removing them entirely, and 20% would leave the choice to each individual.

50% of respondents describe the role of the Soviet Union as a totalitarian regime that carried out repression and destroyed Ukrainian identity.

45% see both positive and negative sides to it, and 4% view it positively.

60% of respondents view the Revolution of Dignity as a fight by citizens for their rights, freedom and European choice.

25% see it as ambiguous, and 13% call it a coup that led to loss of territory and war.

65% of respondents support creating a Ukrainian National Pantheon.

8% oppose it, and 25% know nothing about it.

Vision for the future

43% believe Ukraine is moving in the wrong direction, 39% believe the direction is correct, and 18% are unsure.

Respondents named victory in the war as the main factor for preserving independence (54%). The importance placed on fighting corruption has grown, from 35% in July 2025 to 40% now.

Asked about Ukraine's post-war future, respondents envisioned:

• A self-sufficient "fortress state" – 38%
• Ukraine joining the EU and NATO – 29%
• A regional leader – 21%
• Neutrality – 7%
• Unification with Belarus and a "democratized" Russia – 1%

51% describe the current war as a liberation struggle for Ukraine's existence and independence, 35% see it as a geopolitical conflict, and 11% view it as exhausting and self-destructive.

Rating Group is one of Ukraine's largest research institutions, operating since 2008. The company is registered in Ukraine and has extensive experience conducting sociological surveys in Ukraine and abroad. The group includes the Rating Sociological Group, the Rating Lab research laboratory, the Rating Online platform, and the Rating CATI Center.