24.11.2023
Public sentiment in Ivano-Frankivsk: city residents and displaced persons (October 20-30, 2023)
- According to a survey conducted by the Rating Sociological Group, almost 70% of respondents in the Ivano-Frankivsk community believe that the city is heading in the right direction, while 17% hold the opposite view. Internally displaced persons have a more positive assessment of the direction of affairs in the city (more than 80% rated it as positive).
- Among the available opportunities, local residents and internally displaced persons rated the opportunity to feel safe (82% and 94% satisfied, respectively, 11% and 4% dissatisfied), self-realization (71% satisfied, dissatisfied – 18% and 10%), and youth development (66% and 70% satisfied, respectively, 20% and 8% dissatisfied). Lower ratings were given to the opportunity to do business (47% and 36% satisfied, respectively, 27% and 12% dissatisfied) and decent wages (31% satisfied, 56% and 24% dissatisfied). All opportunities are rated higher by respondents with higher incomes.
- Almost 70% of respondents are satisfied with the activities of Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor Martsinkiv, while 26% are dissatisfied (among IDPs, 63% are satisfied, 15% are dissatisfied, and about a quarter are undecided). Older and poorer respondents are more satisfied with his activities. 37% are satisfied with the activities of the head of the regional military-civilian administration, Onyshchuk, 16% are dissatisfied, and almost half are undecided (among IDPs, 33% are satisfied with her activities, 5% are dissatisfied, and more than 60% did not give an assessment). Almost 40% are satisfied with the work of the regional military-civilian administration, 28% are dissatisfied, and a third are undecided (among IDPs, 41% are satisfied with its activities, 9% are dissatisfied, and more than half are undecided). Among locals, 41% are satisfied with the activities of the regional council, 21% are dissatisfied, and almost 40% are undecided (among IDPs, 43% are satisfied with its activities, 6% are dissatisfied, and more than half are undecided). 46% are satisfied with the work of the city council, 25% are dissatisfied, and almost 30% did not provide their assessment (among IDPs, 45% are satisfied with its activities, 8% are dissatisfied, and 45% are undecided).
- Sixty percent of Frankivsk residents consider the interaction between city residents and local authorities on important community issues to be effective, while about 30% consider it ineffective. Among displaced persons, 60% consider the interaction to be effective, 13% consider it ineffective, and more than a quarter are undecided.
- When assessing various areas of the city authorities' work, 71% of local residents are satisfied with the repair of roads and sidewalks and the improvement of courtyards and adjacent areas, while 25-27% are dissatisfied (among IDPs, 72-73% and 21-24%, respectively). 69% of city residents are satisfied with the functioning of the city during wartime, while 25% are dissatisfied (among IDPs, 79% are satisfied and 12% are dissatisfied). When assessing the assistance provided to IDPs, 58% of local residents expressed their satisfaction, 10% had the opposite opinion, and one-third were unable to assess this area. The displaced persons themselves are more satisfied with the assistance provided (73%), while 18% are dissatisfied. 57% are satisfied with the assistance provided by the army, 22% are dissatisfied, and 22% did not provide an assessment (among displaced persons, 57% and 15% respectively, 29% were undecided). Among local residents, 44% are satisfied with social assistance to low-income residents, 19% are dissatisfied, and more than a third are undecided (among IDPs, 46% are satisfied, 14% are dissatisfied, and more than 40% are undecided).
- The priority areas for city authorities are considered to be assistance to the army (64% among local residents and 57% among IDPs), security in the city (27% among locals and 34% among IDPs), and assistance to displaced persons (10% among locals and 25% among IDPs). The construction of shelters is considered important by 24%, the work of medical institutions (12% among locals and 16% among displaced persons), the fight against corruption (22% and 16% respectively), the organization of humanitarian aid to war victims (9% and 15% respectively), and the creation of jobs (14%). The work of schools and kindergartens and the improvement of residential areas were chosen by up to 10% of respondents, while social programs for the poor, the development of energy conservation, the quality of utilities, road repairs, and city greening were chosen by up to 5%.
- 90% of Ivano-Frankivsk residents associate their plans for the future with living in the city. Among displaced persons, less than half of those surveyed have such plans, and 40% do not plan to stay in the city.
- Nine percent of local residents and 3% of displaced persons surveyed intend to buy their own home in Ivano-Frankivsk in the near future. Another one in five is considering it (23% of local residents and 21% of displaced persons).
- According to the majority of respondents, Ivano-Frankivsk could become a tourist center in the next 5-10 years (46% of local residents and 42% of IDPs believe this). About 30% see it as a cultural center. Twenty percent of locals and 12% of displaced persons surveyed see the city as a future IT center, 19% and 24% respectively see it as an educational center, 10% and 15% see it as an economic center, and 9% and 15% see it as a medical and recreational center. Six to seven percent of respondents see Frankivsk as a military and defense center in the future. Less than 5% chose transport and agriculture as the city's development direction.
- Almost 60% of local residents and more than 40% of IDPs currently have jobs. Among those who are unemployed, up to 40% of local residents and almost 35% of IDPs plan to find employment in the city in the near future.
- Almost a quarter of local residents (20% among IDPs) are personally involved in volunteer initiatives related to the war, while 22-28% of their close friends or relatives are involved (27-32% among IDPs), distant friends/acquaintances in 14% of local residents (10% among IDPs), neighbors or other acquaintances in 6% (5% among IDPs). About 30% of Ivano-Frankivsk residents and almost 40% of IDPs are not involved in volunteering.
- 40% of Ivano-Frankivsk residents believe that the problem of language misunderstanding between local residents and IDPs is significant (among IDPs, this figure is almost 30%), while 34% consider it insignificant (40% among IDPs). Less than a quarter of Ivano-Frankivsk residents surveyed said that there is no problem (among IDPs, this figure is up to 30%). Over the past year, the number of residents of the Ivano-Frankivsk city community who believe that such a problem exists has increased (from 64% to 74%). Young people, women, and the more affluent talk about it more.
- Among local respondents, more than half have a positive attitude toward IDPs, a third have a neutral attitude, and 10% have a negative attitude. Over the past year, there has also been a decrease in positive attitudes toward IDPs (from 68% to 53%) and an increase in neutral attitudes (from 27% to 34%). Men and wealthier people demonstrate warmer attitudes toward IDPs.
- About 70% of local respondents provided assistance to IDPs. Young people and those who are more affluent mentioned this more often. Among IDPs, 44% said they received assistance from ordinary residents, and 43% from city authorities. More than 80% of IDPs surveyed mentioned assistance from the state, and about 70% from volunteers.
- More than half of the community members surveyed would welcome some of the IDPs staying to live and work in the city. About 30% gave a neutral response, and about 10% gave a negative response. Over the past year, positive attitudes toward this idea have increased slightly.
- More than 60% of local residents see tension in relations between IDPs and Ivano-Frankivsk residents (less than half of IDPs surveyed share this opinion). One-third of respondents and less than half of IDPs surveyed note the absence of tension. Young people, women, the more affluent, as well as those who see a problem of language misunderstanding and have a negative attitude towards IDPs, more often spoke of tension in relations.
- Thirteen percent of local residents reported having IDPs in their immediate circle and among their friends or distant relatives due to Russia's full-scale invasion, 11% among close relatives, and 9% among neighbors or acquaintances. More than 60% do not have IDPs in their circle.
- On the other hand, 18% of local residents surveyed have personal experience of accepting IDPs in their homes, 15% among close relatives, 9% among close friends, and 6-7% among distant relatives or neighbors. More than half said they had no such experience personally or among their circle.
- Twenty-two percent of IDPs said that their homes where they lived before the war were destroyed or uninhabitable, 30% said they were partially damaged, and another third said they remained unchanged. Sixteen percent had no information about the condition of their homes.
- Almost half of the displaced persons surveyed said they rent an apartment, while a third live in a refugee center. 10% live in hotels or hostels, and 5% live with relatives or friends.
- The main sources of news are Telegram (48% among locals and 59% among IDPs), news websites (30% and 27%, respectively), Facebook (24% and 28%, respectively), and YouTube (20% and 25%, respectively). Television and Telemaraton were mentioned by 16-19% of local residents and 6-10% of IDPs, while live communication is a source of news for 12% of Ivano-Frankivsk residents and 16% of IDPs. About 10% of respondents use Instagram and Viber to get news, 5% use TikTok, and less than 5% use radio and print media.
- About half of the respondents said that their close relatives are serving in the Defense and Resistance Forces. Twenty-eight percent of Ivano-Frankivsk residents (23% of IDPs) said that they had close friends serving in the military, 14-15% said they had distant relatives or acquaintances serving, 6-7% said they had neighbors or other acquaintances serving, and 4-5% said they were serving themselves. Less than 30% of local residents and about a third of IDPs do not have anyone in their circle who is currently serving.
Methodology
Audience: residents of the Ivano-Frankivsk urban community and internally displaced persons who have arrived in the city, aged 18 and older. The sample is representative in terms of age and gender. Sample population: 800 respondents – residents of the Ivano-Frankivsk urban community, 400 respondents – internally displaced persons. Survey method: Survey method: face-to-face formalized interviews. Margin of error: no more than 3.5% for the survey of city residents, no more than 4.9% for the survey of internally displaced persons. Dates: October 20-30, 2023. The survey was conducted on behalf of the NGO “Agency for Recovery and Development” to prepare a strategy for the Ivano-Frankivsk territorial community and a recovery plan for 2024-2027.
