25.05.2018
Life in Kiev: assessments of the residents
- According to the results of a study conducted by the Rating Group, half of Kyiv residents believe that affairs in the city are moving in the wrong direction, while 33% hold the opposite view and 17% are undecided. The highest share of optimistic assessments is found among young people under 35 and wealthier residents, while the lowest is among older and the poorest respondents.
- Forty-five percent of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the city mayor, Vitali Klitschko, while 40% expressed satisfaction. Twenty-two percent are satisfied with the work of the city council, whereas 63% are dissatisfied.
- Thirty-two percent are satisfied with the work of educational institutions and 46% are dissatisfied. Satisfaction with medical institutions is lower, with 22% satisfied and 68% dissatisfied. The work of municipal services is assessed most critically, with 22% satisfied and 74% dissatisfied.
- Kyiv residents consider the military conflict in eastern Ukraine (53%) and rising utility tariffs (51%) to be the most important problems. Low wages and pensions are considered a personal problem by 28%, corruption in central government by 20%, while rising crime, increasing prices for basic goods, unemployment, inability to obtain quality medical care, and corruption in courts, police, and prosecution services concern between 12% and 15%. Other issues worry fewer than 10% of respondents. Over the past year, the number of those concerned about rising tariffs and prices, low wages or pensions, and access to quality medical care has declined. At the same time, the share of respondents who view the war in the East, rising crime, and corruption in courts, police, and prosecution as problems has increased.
- The biggest city-level problem for Kyiv residents is the cost of utility services (57%). Drug addiction and alcoholism concern 35%, public transport fares 32%, poor road conditions 30%, rising crime and traffic congestion 22% each. Illegal construction, low professional standards of medical staff, stray animals, housing conditions, lack of places in kindergartens, and poor sidewalk conditions concern between 10% and 17% of respondents. Other city problems worry fewer than 10% of Kyiv residents.
- Fifty-five percent believe that the crime situation in the city has worsened over the past year, 25% say it has not changed, and only 7% report improvement. Over the year, the share of those who say the situation has worsened has slightly decreased.
- Two thirds of respondents do not regret the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, while 24% hold the opposite view. Nostalgia for the USSR is most common among older people and the poorest respondents.
- Over the past year, overall attitudes toward the renaming of streets in Kyiv as part of decommunization have slightly improved. Nevertheless, 65% still believe that streets named after Soviet figures should not be renamed. Twenty-two percent think that only names associated with individuals who committed crimes against the Ukrainian people and for which there is documented evidence should be changed, while 9% support a complete renaming of streets associated with Soviet history.
- Forty percent of Kyiv residents say they would not mind changing their place of residence to a city in the European Union, while 55% do not have such a desire. Eighteen percent would like to move from Kyiv to another city in Ukraine, and only 7% would like to move to cities in Russia.
- Sixty-two percent would not like to move abroad permanently, while 35% are open to the idea. The highest share of those willing to leave permanently is among young people and the wealthiest respondents (over 40%). At the same time, 43% would like to go abroad for work, while 55% have no such intentions. Again, the youngest and wealthiest most often express a desire to work or find employment abroad.
- Eighty-four percent of Kyiv residents are proud of their city, while only 12% express the opposite view. The main reason for pride is Kyiv’s history (65%). The city’s natural attractiveness and cultural life are cited by 41–42%, and opportunities for self-realization by 30%. International status, education and science, sports life, and living conditions are sources of pride for 13–18%. Only 10% are proud of the city’s economic development, and 9% believe there is nothing to be proud of at all. Native Kyiv residents more often cite the city’s history and nature as reasons for pride, while those who moved to Kyiv more recently more often mention cultural life, opportunities for self-realization, international status, education and science, and sports.
- Among the city’s opportunities, residents rate leisure opportunities the highest. Slightly lower but still at a high level are opportunities for sports, cultural and educational activities, and self-realization. Opportunities for earning income are rated less favorably: 42% are rather satisfied, 29% dissatisfied, and about one third rate them as average.
- Forty-six percent of Kyiv residents plan to celebrate Kyiv Day this year, while 49% do not. A somewhat higher share of those wishing to participate in festive events is found among older respondents and those who are proud of the city.
Methodology
- Audience: residents of Kyiv aged 18 and older. The sample is representative in terms of age and gender. Total sample: 1200 respondents.
- Personal formalized interview (face-to-face).
- The margin of error does not exceed 2.8%.
- Fieldwork dates: 16-23 May 2018
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