26.06.2017
Ukraine in the focus: sociological dimensions
- According to a survey conducted by Rating Group for Focus magazine in May 2017, more than 60% of Ukrainians consider a unitary state structure to be optimal for Ukraine, while 20% support a federal model and 18% are undecided. Support for a unitary system is strongest in Western Ukraine. Among respondents who express distrust toward Russia, one in ten supports a federal structure for Ukraine.
- For 40% of respondents, the visa-free regime with the European Union is personally important, while 55% say it is not important, and 7% are undecided. These figures have changed little since 2016. Visa-free travel is more important for residents of Western Ukraine and for young people, and least important for pensioners.
- Half of Ukrainians believe Ukraine should become a member of the European Union, 12% support joining the Customs Union, and 28% prefer equidistance from both the EU and Russia. One in ten is undecided. Support for EU membership is strongest in the West and among young people. Among those who do not trust the EU, only 15% support EU membership, while 30% favor the Customs Union and 45% prefer neutrality between the EU and Russia.
- If a referendum on NATO membership were held, 43% would vote in favor, 30% against, 13% would not vote, and 14% are undecided. Support for NATO is higher in Western Ukraine and among young people. Even among those who distrust NATO, one in ten would still support joining it.
- In terms of international trust, Ukrainians express the highest trust in Belarus (60%), the European Union and Canada (56% each), and the United Nations (48%). Russia is trusted least (73% do not trust it). Trust in Canada, the EU, NATO, the United States, the OSCE, and the IMF is higher in the West and Center, while Belarus, the CIS, China, and Russia receive more trust in the South and East.
- Nearly 60% support limiting economic relations with Russia, about 30% support maintaining or expanding them, and 15% are undecided. Compared with 2016, support for limiting ties with Russia has slightly increased. Support for maintaining or expanding relations is more common in the East and South, among older people, and among supporters of the “For Life” party and the Opposition Bloc.
- Almost 40% support introducing visas for travel to Russia, about half oppose it, and 10% are undecided. Support for visas has grown somewhat in recent months and is strongest in Western Ukraine, rural areas, among younger people, and among supporters of Svoboda.
- Regarding Donbas, 40% support ending the Anti-Terrorist Operation only after full restoration of Ukrainian control over the entire region. 13% support broader economic and humanitarian autonomy, 18% support federal-style autonomy within Ukraine, 12% support separation, and 18% are undecided. Support for restoring full Ukrainian control is strongest in the Center and West, in rural areas, and among youth.
- 43% oppose the trade blockade of the territories controlled by the so-called DPR/LPR, while 40% support it, and 17% are undecided. Support is highest in Western Ukraine, rural areas, and among young people.
- More than half believe Ukraine should use all possible means to return Crimea, one quarter believe Ukraine should accept its annexation by Russia, and about 20% are undecided. Support for returning Crimea is strongest in the West, rural areas, and among young people.
- 56% say they are superficially familiar with the Minsk Agreements, one third are not familiar, 7% know them well, and 4% are undecided. Awareness is higher in the East, in cities, and among men.
Almost 30% support revising the Minsk Agreements and signing new ones, 16% support full implementation, 17% favor withdrawing from negotiations, 5% support another option, and one third are undecided. Full implementation is more supported in the East and among voters of For Life and the Opposition Bloc, while revising the agreements is more supported in the West and Center. - Regarding historical and symbolic holidays, 82% view Victory Day (May 9) as personally meaningful, while 7% see it as outdated. More than 70% view International Women’s Day (March 8) as meaningful, and 50% consider May 1 meaningful. Residents of Western Ukraine, rural populations, and Svoboda voters are more likely to see these holidays as outdated or simply days off.
- Two thirds do not support granting Russian the status of a state language, 30% support it, and 7% are undecided. Support for this has slightly increased and is strongest in the East, South, and in cities.
- One third regret the collapse of the Soviet Union, 53% do not, and 14% are undecided. Regret is most common in the East and South, among women, older people, and voters of For Life and the Opposition Bloc.
- 45% support banning the St. George ribbon, about 40% oppose, and 17% are undecided. Support is strongest in the West and among younger and middle-aged people.
Nearly 60% oppose banning Russian websites, about 25% support the ban, and 20% are undecided. - More than half believe church property and parish transitions should be decided by parishioners themselves, while smaller shares assign this role to church leadership, priests, or authorities.
- One third of households own agricultural land, most commonly in the West and among rural residents. Only 11% support free land sales, while 53% believe land should not be a commodity at all.
- Nearly two thirds believe cooperation with the IMF leads to falling living standards and higher prices, while views on whether the IMF helps or harms Ukraine are deeply divided and strongly linked to party affiliation.
- Large majorities oppose raising the retirement age and increasing required years of contributions, but 63% support mandatory sex education in schools.
Support for restoring the death penalty stands at 38%, while 47% oppose it.
Only 23% support banning abortions, 18% support legal gun ownership, 14% support legal prostitution, and 6% support legalizing soft drugs. - Only 6% consider NABU effective in fighting corruption, while 83% believe tougher criminal punishment is the best anti-corruption tool.
- 51% receive utility subsidies, and support for subsidies has grown since 2016. Most believe the current subsidy system is better than energy-efficiency assistance.
- 65% use the internet weekly, and 48% use Facebook, 44% VKontakte, and 43% Odnoklassniki, with strong regional differences.
Methodology
- Respondents: residents of Ukraine aged 18 and older. The sample is representative in terms of age, gender, region, and place of residence.
- Total sample: 3000 respondents.
- Personal formalized interview (face-to-face).
- The margin of error does not exceed 1,8%.
- Fieldwork dates: 22-31 May 2017
.webp)
