News and Press releases

• The results of the survey conducted by Rating Group during the fieldwork dates of April 10–12, 2020, once again recorded the presence among respondents of signs of depression, anxiety, panic, fatigue, and sleep disorders. Comparing the results with the previous two waves (Wave I – March 27–28; Wave II – April 3–4), a slight increase in depression and a decrease in anxiety are observed. Levels of panic, fatigue, and sleep disorders remained at the same level.
• The increase in the level of depression is likely related to physical restrictions (low mobility, reduced activity) and the lack of a sufficient number of external stimuli such as new impressions, events, and the intensity of interaction with others. Life during quarantine is often a “Groundhog Day,” a monotonous uniformity that leads to lower mood and lethargy. In addition, depression is strongly associated with fatigue (the higher the level of fatigue, the higher the level of depression) and with sleep disorders in the same way. The detected anxiety is situational (arising as a result of exposure to unusual environmental stress factors), unlike trait anxiety, which is a constant psychological characteristic of individuals. The decrease in such anxiety is likely related to adaptation to new conditions and a reduction in the sense of uncertainty. Quarantine has ceased to be an unfamiliar phenomenon, and it is precisely such unfamiliar phenomena that cause anxiety. The level of panic overall has remained at very moderate levels since the beginning of quarantine, and further growth now appears unlikely, as this state arises in response to a real or perceived serious threat and is associated with strong negative experiences regarding an unusual situation. Moreover, panic in a psychologically healthy person is a short-term state lasting from several minutes to several days, which have already passed since the beginning of quarantine.
• Age. In dynamics, an increase in sleep disorders is noticeable among representatives of middle age groups (30–49 years) and an increase in fatigue among respondents of pre-retirement age (50–59 years). At the same time, among the latter, a decrease in the level of anxiety is recorded. The same trend is observed among the oldest respondents.
• Gender. Women continue to demonstrate higher levels of all emotional indicators than men. In dynamics over this period, women show a decrease in anxiety levels, indicating better adaptation and adjustment to changes. Among men, an increase in indicators of depression and sleep disorders is recorded, which are strongly interconnected.
• Employment. Among those who have a job, lower levels of sleep disorders and depression are observed than among those who work at least partially remotely. Work helps diversify life during quarantine, partially maintain activity, communication, and interaction, distract from negative thoughts, and maintain a more stable daily routine. At the same time, fatigue indices are practically the same across all categories. In addition, among those who work remotely, levels of anxiety and panic are higher than among those who go to work, since remote work is an unusual situation that required adaptation, many processes are still not established, and there are tasks that are generally impossible to perform remotely or whose quality of performance is reduced. Those who have the opportunity to go to work have retained a larger part of their usual life and work interaction than those who work remotely.
• Locus of control. Attitudes toward life circumstances and control over them have a significant impact on the formation of the psycho-emotional state. Internals, who take responsibility for successes and failures and life events upon themselves, feel significantly better and have lower levels across all indicators, especially depression. Externals, who attribute responsibility for their lives to external factors, on the contrary, demonstrate fairly high levels of psycho-emotional tension.
• The family atmosphere is an important factor influencing the psycho-emotional state of respondents. Tension in family relationships is relatively more often observed in the 30–39 age group, who usually have preschool or primary school-aged children, creating additional tension and burden, as organizing family life with children during quarantine is more difficult for them. At the same time, representatives of older age groups are the calmest.
• Among those who characterized family relationships as calm, the level of negative emotions and states is significantly lower than among others. In this case, the family acts as a support resource during quarantine and helps reduce tension and stress. The psycho-emotional state of those who believe that their family relationships are of a mixed nature is similar to that of those who have no relationships at all. The exception is the level of anxiety, which is higher among those in relationships. Among those who are not in relationships, anxiety is at the same level as among those who consider their relationships calm.
• It is important to emphasize that among those who are in tense relationships, the level of negative psycho-emotional states is very high. In their case, the family, on the contrary, acts as an additional irritant and stressor, does not provide support or a sense of security. Moreover, during quarantine there are few opportunities to spend less time in families with tense relationships, as prolonged co-presence becomes an additional factor exacerbating an already conflict-prone atmosphere. It can be assumed that this group represents a risk group in the post-quarantine period in terms of a potential increase in the number of divorces.

• The results of the survey conducted by Rating Group during the fieldwork dates of April 13–16, 2020, among residents of Ternopil demonstrated that 49% of respondents perceive the coronavirus as a real threat personally for themselves and their families, while 45% hold the opposite view.
• Fifty-five percent reported that they had a job before the introduction of quarantine. Among them, 21% stated that they continue working in their usual mode after the introduction of restrictions, 17% work remotely, 15% are on unpaid leave by their own choice, and only 2% have lost their jobs.
• Despite the quarantine, 13% of respondents stated that they leave home several times a day, and 30% once a day. At the same time, 48% reported that they go out only once every few days, while 8% try not to go out at all. Women and the oldest respondents more often reported a high level of restrictions on leaving home.
• Sixty-nine percent stated that they have protective masks in sufficient quantity, 27% have them but not enough, and 4% do not have them at all. Among those who have masks in sufficient quantity, an absolute majority wear them frequently when going outside, at about 90%.
• Ninety-seven percent support the introduction of a mandatory requirement to wear masks in public places. Seventy-four percent do not object to restrictions on visiting parks, forest belts, and coastal areas during quarantine, while 21% are opposed. Opposition is somewhat more common among younger respondents and men.
• Sixty-seven percent of respondents consider the measures introduced by the authorities to combat coronavirus to be optimal. Twenty percent believe they are too lenient. Only 7% are convinced that the measures are too strict.
• Fifty-one percent of respondents consider the reaction of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the threat of the spread of coronavirus in Ukraine to be effective, while 27% give opposite assessments. Regarding the Ministry of Health, 45% consider the actions of the institution effective, 33% ineffective, and 22% were unable to answer. As for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 44% consider its actions effective, 30% ineffective, and 26% were unable to assess. The effectiveness of the actions of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal was more difficult for respondents to assess: 43% did not answer this question, 33% assessed his actions as effective, and 25% as ineffective.
• Seventy-eight percent of respondents consider the actions of the Mayor of Ternopil, Serhii Nadal, in responding to the coronavirus threat to be effective, while only 10% hold the opposite view. The activities of the city’s medical institutions are considered effective by 48%, ineffective by 16%, while 36% were unable to assess them. Half of respondents hesitated in their answers when assessing the effectiveness of the Head of the Ternopil Regional State Administration, Volodymyr Trush, in combating the coronavirus threat. Thirty-two percent consider his actions effective, and 19% ineffective.
• The leaders of electoral sympathies in elections to the city council are the Svoboda All-Ukrainian Union party, supported by 22.9% of those who have decided and intend to participate in elections, European Solidarity with 21.7%, and Servant of the People with 21.3%. Nine point three percent would vote for Batkivshchyna, 5.9% for Holos, and 4.1% for Civic Position. The rating of other political forces is below 3%. About 40% of respondents remain undecided.
• The leader among candidates for the position of Mayor of Ternopil is Serhii Nadal. If elections were held in the near future, about 70% of those who have decided and intend to participate in voting would support him. Five point nine percent would vote for Stepan Barna, 5.5% for Andrii Bohdanets, and 4.8% for Petro Landiak. The ratings of other candidates are below 4%. About 20% of respondents remain undecided.
• Modeling of the second round of mayoral elections produced the following results: if Serhii Nadal and other candidates from political parties were to advance to the runoff, the incumbent mayor would confidently win in all combinations. In a pair with Stepan Barna, 68% of respondents are ready to support Serhii Nadal, compared to 9% for the candidate from European Solidarity. In a pair with Andrii Bohdanets from Servant of the People, the result would be 67% versus 9%, and in a pair with Bohdan Brych from Batkivshchyna, 71% versus 4% in favor of the Mayor of Ternopil.

The survey was conducted by Sociological Group “Rating” (Rating Group Ukraine) on behalf of the International Republican Institute’s Center for Insights in Survey Research.

This annual survey provides an extensive look at citizen attitudes about local governance and municipal services.
 
Polling was conducted in the 24 regional capitals of Ukraine not under the control of Russian or Russian-backed forces, including Mariupol and Sievierodonetsk in the Donbas region. The survey is based on a sample size of 19,200 respondents.
The margin of error for each city does not exceed ±3.5 points. Average response rate is 63.9%

The Sixth Nationwide Municipal Survey from Ratinggroup

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• The results of the surveys conducted by Rating Group during the fieldwork dates of April 10–12, 2020, demonstrated that 51% of respondents believe that the economic situation of their family has worsened over the past six months. Forty-two percent believe that it has not changed, while 6% have seen an improvement. At the same time, when assessing changes in their financial situation in the short term, 61% reported deterioration over the past month, 35% said they had not felt any changes, and only 3% reported improvement. Older and less affluent respondents were more pessimistic in their assessments.
• Speaking about the country’s economic prospects over the next six months, 68% believe that the situation will worsen, 13% think it will not change, and 9% expect improvement.
• Fifty-five percent of respondents consider the response of President Zelenskyy to the coronavirus threat in Ukraine to be effective, while 31% hold the opposite view. Regarding the Ministry of Health, 41% of respondents consider the actions of the institution effective, while 44% consider them ineffective. As for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 39% assess its actions as effective, 35% as ineffective, and 25% were unable to assess them. Concerning the effectiveness of the actions of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, 43% of respondents found it difficult to answer this question; 28% assessed his actions as effective, while 29% assessed them as ineffective. Over the past two weeks, assessments of the effectiveness of the Head of State’s response to the coronavirus threat have not changed, while evaluations of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have improved.
• Sixty-one percent of respondents consider the measures introduced by the authorities to combat coronavirus to be optimal. Seventeen percent claim that they are too lenient, while 15% believe that the measures are too strict. Over the past two weeks, the share of those who consider the measures too lenient has decreased from 28% to 17%, while the share of those who consider them too strict has increased from 7% to 15%.
• Almost 70% consider the introduced quarantine to be effective, while one quarter give opposite assessments.
• Fifty-four percent of respondents positively assess the distance education project initiated by the President for school students during quarantine. Seventeen percent give neutral assessments, while 16% give negative ones. Only 9% have not heard about it, and 4% were unable to answer. Residents of the Center, older respondents, and more affluent respondents assess this initiative relatively better. Among supporters of political forces, the highest share of critics of this project is observed among sympathizers of Shariy’s party, the Radical Party, the Opposition Platform – For Life, and European Solidarity.
• More than half of respondents stated that they have restricted leaving home due to quarantine. One third reported adhering to partial restrictions. Only one in ten stated that they do not comply with quarantine. Over the past two weeks, these indicators have not changed. Full self-restriction is more often reported by residents of the West and Center, women, and representatives of the oldest age group.
• Despite quarantine, 19% of respondents stated that they leave home several times a day, and 29% once a day. At the same time, 42% reported that they go out only once every few days, while 10% try not to go out at all. Over the past two weeks, these indicators have not changed. A high level of restrictions on leaving home is more often reported by women, the oldest, and the least affluent respondents.
• Among those who had a job before the introduction of quarantine, 40% stated that they continue working in their usual mode after the introduction of restrictions. Twenty-three percent work remotely, 11% went on leave, 18% are on unpaid leave by their own choice, and 8% lost their jobs.
• Fifty-five percent of respondents stated that, in the event of cessation of income, their savings would last less than one month. Seventeen percent said their savings would last up to two months, 8% up to three months, and 9% up to six months or more. At the same time, 82% reported that they have started saving money during quarantine, while 16% said they have not. The latter are more common among men and more affluent citizens.
• A relative majority of respondents, 37%, stated that in the event of losing a source of income they would most likely look for a job or side work. Fifteen percent would try to borrow from relatives or close contacts, 10% stated they would take part in protests or riots, and 4% are ready to take loans from financial institutions. Fourteen percent gave other answers, 16% stated that they could not face a situation of income loss, and 13% were unable to say how they would act in such a situation. Men, younger and more affluent respondents are more likely to seek work or additional earnings, while older and poorer respondents are more likely to be ready to protest.
• Twenty-seven percent of respondents are ready to take part in public order protection activities on a voluntary basis jointly with National Guard or police patrols, while 69% are not ready.
• Seventy percent support a possible decision to extend quarantine measures until June in case of a worsening coronavirus situation, while 23% are opposed. Opposition is more common among residents of the South, less affluent respondents, and supporters of Shariy’s party, the Opposition Platform – For Life, and Batkivshchyna.
• Eighty percent of respondents support a possible tightening of quarantine measures during Easter holidays, and 75% during May holidays. Regarding Easter restrictions, opposition to this initiative is more common among believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and atheists.
• Over the past two weeks, the number of those who support the introduction of fines for violating quarantine conditions has significantly decreased from 75% to 55%. Only 25% support stricter measures against quarantine violators, up to and including imprisonment.
• Fifty-six percent of respondents support the idea of postponing local elections scheduled for October 2020 to December. Twenty-three percent are opposed, and 21% were unable to answer. Forty-three percent do not object to postponing local council elections to the spring of the following year, while one third are opposed. Twenty-four percent were unable to answer. Opposition to postponing voting dates is relatively more common among supporters of Shariy’s party and the Opposition Platform – For Life.
• The leader of electoral sympathies in elections to the Verkhovna Rada is the Servant of the People party, supported by 38.1% of those who intend to vote and have decided. Fifteen point four percent are ready to support European Solidarity, 14.1% the Opposition Platform – For Life, and 9.1% Batkivshchyna. The rating of other political forces is below 4%. About 20% remain undecided.
• Forty percent of respondents stated that they are aware that the Verkhovna Rada recently voted for a law prohibiting the return of nationalized banks to their former owners, 27% have heard something about it, and 31% know nothing about it. Half of respondents support this law, 17% are opposed, and 32% were unable to assess it. The largest share of supporters of these changes is among the oldest respondents and supporters of European Solidarity and Holos.
• Respondents follow news about the coronavirus situation more often than political news, 72% versus 43%.
• Eighty-five percent stated that they do not plan to go to church on Easter, whereas in March at the beginning of quarantine this share was only 21%. Four percent intend to attend church services, and 7% plan only to bless Easter baskets, compared to 39% and 35% respectively in March. The largest share of those who wish to personally participate in Easter services and blessings is among residents of the West, rural residents, believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
• Sixty-four percent plan to watch online broadcasts of Easter services, while 31% do not plan to do so. Those intending to watch services are relatively more common among residents of the West, rural residents, the oldest respondents, women, and believers of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
• Two thirds of respondents place responsibility for introducing additional quarantine measures during Easter holidays on the authorities, 38% on local authorities and 34% on central authorities. Only 11% believe that churches should be responsible for strengthening restrictions.
• Fifty-five percent of respondents do not plan to visit cemeteries on memorial days. At the same time, 8% want to go on the day when church services are held there, and 32% stated that they will visit cemeteries on other days when there are no crowds. The latter are most common among the oldest respondents, residents of the West and South, rural residents, men, and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

• On March 23, 2020, a petition titled “Return Uliana Suprun to the position of Minister of Health of Ukraine” was registered on the website of electronic petitions to the President of Ukraine and has already collected the required number of signatures. Therefore, we decided to find out the opinion of Ukrainians on this issue. According to the results of a survey conducted by Rating Group during the fieldwork dates of April 12–13, 2020, 63% do not support the return of Uliana Suprun to the position of Minister of Health of Ukraine, 14% support it, and about one quarter were unable to answer this question.
• Relatively higher support for this initiative is observed in the western regions, where 21% are in favor and 49% are against. In the central regions, 14% support the initiative, while 65% are against it. The lowest level of support is recorded in the southern regions, where 11% are in favor and 73% are against, and in the eastern regions, where 8% are in favor and 62% are against. The strongest opposition to the idea of returning Uliana Suprun to the position is observed among older people, among whom more than 70% do not support this initiative.

• The results of a survey conducted by Rating Group during the fieldwork dates of April 4–7, 2020 among residents of Kyiv demonstrated that 53% of respondents see coronavirus as a real threat for themselves and their families, while 40% hold the opposite opinion.
• 59% stated that they had a job before the introduction of quarantine. Among them, 21% noted that they continue to work in the usual mode after the introduction of restrictions. 22% work remotely, 13% are on unpaid leave, and only 3% lost their job.
• 92% support the introduction of a mandatory requirement to wear masks in public places. 71% support the decision of the Kyiv city authorities to close the metro during quarantine (21% are against), and 65% do not object to restrictions on visiting parks, forest areas, and coastal zones during quarantine (31% are against).
• 59% of respondents consider the actions of the Mayor of Kyiv, V. Klitschko, in responding to the coronavirus threat to be effective, while 26% hold the opposite opinion. Regarding Kyiv medical institutions, 35% consider their actions effective, 29% ineffective, and 35% were unable to answer.
• 47% of respondents consider the reaction of President V. Zelenskyy to the threat of the spread of coronavirus in Ukraine to be effective, while 35% give opposite assessments. As for the Ministry of Health, 38% consider the actions of the institution effective, 42% ineffective, and 20% were unable to answer. Regarding the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 38% consider the actions of this institution effective, 35% ineffective, and 27% were unable to assess them. As for the effectiveness of the actions of Prime Minister D. Shmyhal, 40% of respondents found it difficult to answer this question. 28% assessed his actions as effective, and 32% as ineffective.
• 54% are satisfied with the activities of the Mayor of Kyiv, Klitschko, 32% are dissatisfied, and 14% were unable to answer. 35% are satisfied with the work of the Kyiv City Council, 35% are dissatisfied, and 28% were unable to assess it.
• 43% of respondents are rather satisfied with the activities of President Zelenskyy, while 44% gave opposite assessments. 21% are satisfied with the activities of Prime Minister Shmyhal, while 37% are dissatisfied. At the same time, 43% have not yet been able to assess his work. 18% are satisfied with the activities of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, 63% are dissatisfied, and 19% were unable to assess it.
• 46% believe that the situation in Kyiv has improved during the mayoralty of V. Klitschko, 32% state that it has not changed, and only 14% saw a deterioration during this period.
• The leader among candidates for the position of Mayor of Kyiv is Vitalii Klitschko. If elections were held in the near future, 38.7% of those who have decided and intend to participate in voting would support him. 9.1% of such respondents would support S. Prytula, 8.8% S. Tkachenko, 8.2% A. Palchevskyi, 6.4% O. Omelchenko, 5.2% O. Popov, and 4.4% B. Bereza. The ratings of other candidates are below 4%. About one quarter of respondents have not decided on their choice.
• Modeling of the second round of the mayoral election produced the following results: if V. Klitschko and other leading candidates advanced to the second round, the incumbent mayor would win in all combinations. In a pair with O. Tkachenko, 47% of respondents are ready to support V. Klitschko, compared to 18% for the candidate from the party “Servant of the People”. In a pair with S. Prytula, the result would be 48% versus 20%, and in a pair with A. Palchevskyi, 49% versus 19% in favor of the head of Kyiv.
• The leader of electoral sympathies in elections to the city council is the party “Servant of the People”. It is supported by 22.3% of those who have decided and intend to participate in the elections. 18.6% of such respondents would vote for the party “European Solidarity”, 13.5% for the party “UDAR”, 9.4% for the party “Batkivshchyna”, 7.2% for the party “Opposition Platform – For Life”, 5.9% for the party “Holos”, 3.8% for the Sharii Party, and 3.2% for the party “Strength and Honor”. The ratings of other political forces are below 3%. About one quarter of respondents have not decided on their choice.

• The results of a survey conducted by Rating Group during the fieldwork dates of April 3–7, 2020 among residents of Chernihiv demonstrated that an absolute majority of respondents (83%) see the spread of coronavirus in Ukraine as a real threat.
• 59% of respondents see the spread of coronavirus in Chernihiv as a real threat, while 27% do not. 44% consider coronavirus to be a real threat personally for themselves and their families, while 45% hold the opposite view.
• 59% stated that they had a job before the introduction of quarantine. Among them, 28% noted that they continue to work in the usual mode after the introduction of restrictions. 16% work remotely, 13% are on unpaid leave, and only 2% lost their job.
• Despite quarantine, 20% of respondents stated that they leave home several times a day, and 32% once a day. At the same time, 42% stated that they leave home only once every few days, and 6% try not to leave home at all. Women and the oldest respondents more often reported a high level of restrictions on leaving home.
• 53% stated that they have protective masks in sufficient quantity, 40% have them but not enough, and 7% do not have them at all. Among those who have masks in sufficient quantity, 70% wear them often, 19% sometimes, and 11% do not wear them at all. Among those who have an insufficient number of masks, 58% wear them often, 29% sometimes, and 14% do not use them. Protective equipment is more often used by women, younger respondents, and the oldest respondents.
• 91% support the introduction of a mandatory requirement to wear masks in public places. 82% support the Government’s decision to extend quarantine until April 24 (14% are against). 70% do not object to restrictions on visiting parks, forest areas, and coastal zones during quarantine (26% are against).
• 58% of respondents consider the measures introduced by the authorities to combat coronavirus to be optimal. 21% state that they are too mild, and 12% are convinced that the measures are too strict.
• 47% of respondents consider the reaction of President V. Zelenskyy to the threat of the spread of coronavirus in Ukraine to be effective, while 30% give opposite assessments. Regarding the effectiveness of the actions of Prime Minister D. Shmyhal, 48% of respondents found it difficult to answer this question. 28% assessed his actions as effective, and 26% as ineffective. Regarding the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 35% consider the actions of this institution to be effective, 26% ineffective, and 38% were unable to assess them. As for the Ministry of Health, 33% consider the actions of the ministry to be effective, 41% ineffective, and 26% were unable to answer.
• 73% of respondents consider the actions of the Mayor of Chernihiv, V. Atroshenko, in responding to the coronavirus threat to be effective, while only 10% hold the opposite opinion.
• 73% of respondents stated that they know nothing about the activities of the Member of Parliament elected from their constituency. 13% are satisfied with his work, while 10% are dissatisfied.
• The leader of electoral sympathies in elections to the city council is V. Atroshenko’s party “Ridnyi Dim”. It is supported by 40.3% of those who have decided and intend to participate in the elections. 19% of such respondents would vote for the party “Servant of the People”, 8.6% each for the parties “Batkivshchyna” and “European Solidarity”, and 7.8% for the party “Opposition Platform – For Life”. The ratings of other political forces are below 4%. About 40% of respondents have not decided on their choice.
• The absolute leader among candidates for the position of Mayor of Chernihiv is Vladyslav Atroshenko. If elections were held in the near future, more than 90% of those who have decided and intend to participate in voting would support him. The ratings of other candidates are below 2%. About 15% of respondents have not decided on their choice.

• The results of the survey conducted by Rating Group recorded the presence among respondents of signs of depression, anxiety, panic, fatigue, and sleep disorders. Comparing the results of the two waves of the survey (Wave I – March 27–28, Wave II – April 3–4), a slight increase in anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia is noticeable. The levels of depression and panic remained at the same level.
• Overall, the level of negative emotional states of Ukrainians during quarantine and their dynamics do not currently cause concern. No significant growth was detected, and disorders with a clinical profile (panic, depression) remained at the initial level.
• Age: The level of anxiety is relatively high among all age groups except the oldest. In older age (50+), depressive moods are less common. At the same time, sleep disorders are more frequently observed among representatives of the older and oldest age groups. An increase in negative emotional states was recorded among respondents aged 18–29 and 30–39. Thus, among the youngest, signs of depression appear in the current situation. Among other age groups, changes are insignificant, and among the oldest, a decrease in the level of panic is recorded.
• Age differences in psycho-emotional states are likely related to changes in lifestyles. Young people show more depressive states due to a sharp change in lifestyle, forced narrowing of the social circle, reduced activity, and a decrease in impressions and events. At the same time, at the age of 50+, the lifestyle becomes more and more quarantine-like every year (more time spent at home, a smaller social interaction circle, retirement, etc.), therefore, apart from sleep disorders, which are normative at this age, older people experience other negative states better and adapt better to the situation (panic decreases).
• Gender: Women demonstrate higher levels of all emotional indicators than men. At the same time, no significant shifts were recorded among women during this period. In contrast, indicators increased among men, especially in terms of anxiety and sleep disorders. The identified gender differences correspond to the norm: women typically have a higher level of reflection on their own emotional states and a wider range of manifestations at the behavioral level, as according to gender norms women are “allowed” to be emotional. Men, by contrast, are expected not to feel and to hide emotions. However, due to their behavioral styles, men adapt worse to stressors and are not able to suppress their negative experiences for a long time; therefore, it is likely that the level does not increase, but rather becomes more evident in men’s awareness.
• Respondents mostly communicate frequently with their relatives and friends. Thus, 27% constantly spend time or communicate with relatives, 51% do so often, 10% sometimes, 11% rarely, and 1% never. Men and older people communicate with their relatives relatively less. 15% constantly spend time or communicate with friends/colleagues, 43% do so often, 21% sometimes, 19% rarely, and 2% never. Men and respondents aged 40–49 communicate with friends/colleagues more often.
• Very few seek help from psychologists: 91% never do so, 5% do so rarely, and 3% sometimes. Only about 2% of respondents do so often or constantly. The vast majority also do not seek help from healers or psychics. However, they turn to them somewhat more often than to psychologists. Thus, 88% never seek advice from them, 7% do so rarely, 4% sometimes, and 2% often or constantly. Younger people turn to psychologists somewhat more often, while older people more often turn to healers; women turn to both categories somewhat more often.
• For Ukrainians in general, despite the increase in обращения to psychologists in recent years, seeking help from a specialist in the case of psychological problems or interaction disorders remains unusual. The same applies to visits to a doctor before serious symptoms appear. Demand for psychological assistance is formed by psychological education and the growth of psychological culture, which are still at a low level in our society. While young people are more progressive in their views, older groups prefer healers.
• Level of trust: 54% believe that one must be very careful with people. 30%, on the contrary, believe that most people can be trusted. 16% were unable to answer. In the issue of social trust, a clear age and gender dependence is observed: the younger the respondents, the more inclined they are to distrust others. Men are more cautious toward other people than women. Trust in people as a universal basic value has fallen outside the psychological norm. Normally, we a priori assume that people can generally be trusted, which allows us to build strong social ties not only with a close circle but also in a broader social environment. This is the basis of civil society, the level of responsibility, and mutual assistance. Such a level of distrust is shaped both by personal life experience and by social processes in general. Moreover, distrust of people as a whole requires much more psychological effort than the basic assumption that people can be trusted, which leads to significant differences in the psychological states of those who trust (they feel better) and those who do not trust (they feel worse).
• Most of the population consider themselves rather happy than unhappy: 19% consider themselves very happy (this indicator has decreased; in 2018 it was 36%), 57% rather happy, 16% not very happy, and only 2% absolutely unhappy. The younger the age, the happier respondents feel.
• 70% believe that a person’s happiness primarily depends on their internal state. At the same time, 21% are convinced that whether a person is happy or not depends on external circumstances. Women are more inclined to believe that happiness is primarily the result of a person’s internal state. In general, the happier a person is, the more they agree with this opinion. At least one third of unhappy respondents are convinced that happiness depends on external circumstances.
• The feeling of happiness inversely affects the experience of negative emotions: the happier a person is, the less pronounced are indicators of depressive and anxious states, sleep disorders, panic, and fatigue. People who consider themselves unhappy experience all these negative emotions the most, with the most pronounced difference observed in the indicator of depression. The same applies to the assessment of the source of happiness: people who believe that happiness depends on external circumstances experience more negative emotions, while those who believe that happiness is an internal state experience fewer such emotions.
• Negative feelings are also significantly influenced by interpersonal communication: the less time respondents spend or communicate with their close ones (friends, family), the more pronounced their negative psycho-emotional states are. For example, all indicators (anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, depression, panic) are highest among those who communicate with their relatives rarely.
• A similar relationship is observed between social trust and psycho-emotional states: those who are more inclined to trust others have noticeably lower indicators of negative emotions than those who treat people with caution and distrust.
• Thus, respondents generally feel quite happy. According to the results of the study, the feeling of happiness is supported by an internal locus of control (my life, mood, emotions, and behavior primarily depend on me – I am responsible for my states), strong interpersonal ties and intensity of communication (with relatives and friends), mutual assistance, and basic trust in people. While the level of basic trust is not easy to address quickly, everything else represents resources that help maintain emotional stability during quarantine and endure it without serious psychological consequences for the individual.

• The results of the survey conducted by Rating Group during the fieldwork dates of April 1–2, 2020, showed that during the quarantine period the frequency of news consumption among respondents increased significantly, with almost half stating that they began following the news more often.
• One third of respondents reported that they started watching films and TV series more often, cleaning their homes, and cooking food. About one quarter indicated that they increased the amount of time devoted to self-development, communication with relatives and close ones, sleep, food, and listening to music. One in five respondents began spending more time on their hobbies, reading books, or engaging in sports.
• At the same time, quarantine significantly affected time spent outdoors: almost half of respondents stated that they now go for walks less often than usual. Restrictions also had a substantial impact on communication with friends, with about 40% reporting that they communicate with them less frequently than before quarantine. One in five respondents was forced to limit communication with relatives and close ones as well as sports activities.
• Certain gender differences in behavioral patterns during quarantine are observed. Women tend to follow the news and cook food somewhat more often. Men more often began engaging in sports and spend more time than usual sleeping, consuming alcohol, and having sex, especially those men who are currently in quarantine and not going to work.
• In terms of age, representatives of the youngest age group (18–29 years) more often than others watch films, engage in self-development, sports, hobbies, communicate with friends and close ones, sleep, eat, listen to music, and have sex. As a result of quarantine, cooking has become more frequent not among older people but among representatives of the youngest and young age groups (under 40 years). Even men are doing this much more actively than before quarantine. It is also noteworthy that respondents under 40 more often than others reported restrictions on outdoor walks.
• An interesting analysis concerns changes in respondents’ behavior depending on their employment status during quarantine. Respondents who do not go to work, either because they are unemployed or working remotely, began devoting significantly more time to sleep, cooking and eating, sports, hobbies, communication with close ones, learning and self-development, books, films, and TV series. Even those who continue going to work began watching more films, following the news more actively, and increasing time spent sleeping and eating, although to a lesser extent than those staying at home during quarantine. Employment status had almost no effect on the frequency of sexual activity.
• Data analysis made it possible to group respondents’ answers into five different models of behavior during quarantine using factor analysis. The first group tries to devote more time to self-development, including sports, hobbies, reading, and learning. Representatives of the second group began resting more, watching films and TV series, eating, sleeping, and listening to music. A separate group during quarantine, referred to as “hedonism,” spends more time on online shopping for goods and food, alcohol consumption, and sex. Representatives of the remaining two groups devote more time either to communication or to household chores.
• Among basic emotions, respondents most often experience joy and interest/excitement. Less pronounced are surprise, anger, sadness, and fear. Even less pronounced are disgust, feelings of guilt, shame, and indifference. Emotions represent the current background of mood and psychological well-being and reflect what a person is experiencing at the moment, unlike feelings, which are usually long-term and stable and do not change significantly under the influence of mood. Emotions are situational and easier to manage, allowing changes in emotional background through simple actions.
• Age differences are also evident in emotional experiences. Representatives of the youngest age group (18–29 years) more often than others experience joy and indifference. Young adults aged 30–39 more often feel anger. Middle-aged respondents more frequently experience surprise. The oldest respondents are less likely than others to feel indifference, hostility, and surprise. Traditionally, at older ages people tend to worry more about others, such as children and grandchildren, and about their own physical condition and health. At the same time, sadness is more often observed among older respondents. It is also notable that the older group experiences fear less often, despite being the main risk group.
• Gender differences in emotions are also observed. Women more often than men experience joy, surprise, interest/excitement, feelings of guilt, and sadness. Men more often experience indifference, hostility/disgust, and anger. Thus, the male emotional spectrum is more concentrated on the negative pole, while the female spectrum is bipolar. This corresponds to a traditional gender distribution of emotions, as women are culturally allowed to express emotions more openly, whereas men are expected to hide them, with the exception of emotions associated with masculinity.
• Interesting relationships are observed between changes in activity frequency during quarantine and emotional state. Activity can influence emotional states, just as emotional states can lead to changes in activity and behavior. Emotional background also depends on a person’s physical condition and environmental factors such as comfortable temperature, sunlight, fresh air, sufficient distance from others, and personal space, all of which help maintain psychological boundaries and improve well-being.
• Those who began following the news more often were also more likely to experience fear and surprise, which is linked to the emotional framing of news content designed to attract attention, often through negative emotions. Those who consume more alcohol more often experience fear, hostility, anger, surprise, and sadness, indicating that alcohol does not improve emotional state but rather deepens destructive experiences.
• Respondents who began communicating less with friends and close ones more often experience sadness and anger, while those who communicate more frequently more often experience joy. Social isolation is an unusual and uncomfortable state, as people are social beings who seek affiliation and social facilitation.
• Those who began engaging more often in sex and online shopping experience more joy and surprise and significantly less sadness. Conversely, respondents who reduced sports, hobbies, or listening to music more often experience negative emotions such as sadness, anger, and fear.
• Those who began sleeping more experience higher levels of indifference, disgust, and anger. Sleep can temporarily reduce stress by switching off emotional experiences but cannot resolve them on its own. Respondents who spend more time outdoors more often experience joy due to positive environmental factors, although they also report increased feelings of guilt related to quarantine restrictions.
• Overall, people can influence their emotional background through simple actions, such as limiting news consumption to reduce anxiety and fear, increasing communication with relatives and friends to experience joy, and engaging in constructive activities such as sex, hobbies, sports, fresh air, and favorite music, while avoiding destructive behaviors such as excessive alcohol consumption, excessive sleep, overexposure to news, and social isolation.

• The results of the surveys conducted by Rating Group during the fieldwork dates of Wave I (March 25–27) and Wave II (March 28–30) showed that an absolute majority of respondents perceive the spread of coronavirus in Ukraine as a real threat. Compared to the beginning of quarantine, the share of those who see such a threat increased from 73% to 87%.
• Fifty-one percent of respondents consider coronavirus a real threat personally for themselves and their families, while 41% hold the opposite view. Over the past two weeks, opinions on this issue have changed only slightly. Residents of the western and central regions of the country and urban residents more often spoke about the existence of such a threat.
• When assessing the level of coronavirus incidence in Ukraine on a five-point scale, 28% of respondents rated it as very high or high, 34% as medium, and 32% as low or minimal. Higher assessments of incidence were more often given by residents of the South, urban residents, and representatives of the older age group.
• Assessing the situation with incidence in their own region, respondents perceive it as less threatening than at the national level. Only 13% of respondents stated that the level of incidence in their locality is high, while 65% consider it low or minimal. This opinion prevails among residents of eastern regions and rural areas.
• Opinions regarding the possible introduction of a state of emergency in Ukraine are divided: 49% would support such an initiative, while 43% would not.
• At the same time, 83% support a possible ban on mass events, strikes, and rallies under a state of emergency. Seventy-one percent do not object to possible restrictions on entry to and exit from certain cities and regions, 65% support possible restrictions on vehicle movement and inspections, and 58% support the possible introduction of a curfew in cities. At the same time, regarding the possible granting of the state the right to forcibly seize property from legal entities and individuals under a state of emergency, an absolute majority of respondents, 80%, are opposed to such measures, while only 14% support them.
• Seventy-four percent believe that fines should be introduced for people who violate quarantine restrictions, while 19% are against such an initiative.
• Fifty-eight percent of respondents consider the measures introduced by the authorities to combat coronavirus to be optimal. Twenty-eight percent believe that they are too lenient, and only 6% are convinced that the measures are too strict.
• Thirty-four percent believe that the authorities should return all citizens home after the closure of borders, 24% believe that returns should take place selectively, while another 34% believe that no one should be returned at all after border closure.
• Fifty-three percent are convinced that the authorities downplay the situation when providing information about the spread of coronavirus, 21% believe that the information is objective, and 11% think that it is exaggerated.
• When assessing the information presented by Ukrainian mass media, 38% believe that they downplay the situation, 23% consider the coverage objective, and 19% believe that the information is exaggerated. Twenty-one percent were unable to answer this question.
• Fifty-six percent of respondents consider the reaction of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the threat of coronavirus spread in Ukraine to be effective, while 30% give opposite assessments. Regarding the Ministry of Health, 38% consider its actions effective and 46% ineffective. As for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 37% consider its actions effective, 33% ineffective, and 30% were unable to assess them. Regarding the effectiveness of the actions of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, 44% of respondents found it difficult to answer this question, 30% assessed his actions as effective, and 26% as ineffective. Over the past two weeks, assessments of the effectiveness of the actions of these institutions in responding to the coronavirus threat have increased.
• Almost 70% consider the introduced quarantine to be effective, while one quarter give opposite assessments. Residents of the South and East, younger respondents, and men somewhat more often consider quarantine measures ineffective. At the same time, almost 80% of respondents support the Government’s decision to extend quarantine until April 24, 2020.
• Two thirds reported that they had a job before the introduction of quarantine. Among them, 35% stated that they continue working in the usual mode after restrictions were introduced, 29% work remotely, 32% are on unpaid leave, and only 4% lost their jobs.
• More than half of respondents stated that they limited leaving their homes due to quarantine. One third reported partial restrictions, and only one in ten stated that they do not comply with quarantine. Residents of the Center, women, and representatives of the oldest age group more often reported complete self-isolation.
• Despite quarantine, 18% of respondents reported leaving home several times a day and 31% once a day. At the same time, 43% stated that they leave home only once every few days, and 7% try not to leave at all. Higher levels of restriction on leaving home were more often reported by urban residents, women, and the oldest respondents.
• The main reason for going outside cited by respondents was going to the store for groceries, mentioned by 73%. Twenty-eight percent go out due to work, and the same share due to visiting a pharmacy. About 5–7% reported going outside to walk with children, engage in sports, or walk pets. About 3–4% leave home to meet friends and acquaintances or to visit a doctor.
• Fifty-two percent stated that they are ready to stay at home without going outside for more than five days if a ban on leaving home is introduced. Twelve percent said they could stay at home for four to five days, 20% for two to three days, and 10% for no more than one day. The latter group is most common among men, poorer and wealthier respondents. At the same time, among the wealthier group there is also the largest share of those ready to remain in home quarantine for more than five days.
• Almost 60% of respondents stated that their savings would last less than one month if income stopped. Sixteen percent said their savings would last up to two months, 7% up to three months, 6% up to six months, and 3% up to one year or more.
• Forty-two percent stated that they have protective masks in sufficient quantity, 39% have them but in insufficient quantity, and 19% do not have them at all. Fifty-seven percent reported having disinfectants at home in sufficient quantity, 29% have them but insufficiently, and 14% do not have them. Protective gloves in sufficient quantity are available to 40% of respondents, insufficiently to 23%, and not available at all to 37%. Protective and disinfecting products are more often used by residents of western and central regions, urban residents, women, and younger respondents. Those who have them in sufficient quantity use them more frequently.
• Three quarters of respondents worry that someone close to them may become ill with coronavirus, while concern for their own health is lower, with 58% worrying and 42% not worried.
• Almost 80% are concerned that Ukraine will face a prolonged economic crisis. More than two thirds worry that they will not be able to purchase necessary medicines. Almost half worry that they will not be able to buy necessary food, while 52% do not worry about this. Only 25% are concerned that they will have to cancel important events or trips, while three quarters are not worried about this.
• Forty-four percent rated their emotional state over the past week as calm, while 23% described it as tense. Higher levels of anxiety are recorded among women and older people. Eighty percent of respondents assessed their relationships with people they live with over the past week as calm, and only 8% as tense.

• The results of a survey conducted by the Sociological Group “Rating” during February 21–25, 2020, demonstrated that a relative majority of Ukrainians believe that women are sufficiently represented in various spheres of public life. At the same time, almost 40% of respondents are convinced that women are underrepresented in politics; 30–35% believe that women are insufficiently represented in law enforcement agencies and in science; 26% — in the army; and 19% — in business. Conversely, about one third of respondents believe that women are overrepresented in such spheres as healthcare and education. Notably, it was women rather than men who more often pointed to the insufficient representation of women in security structures, politics, science, and business.
• About half of respondents agree with the statements that Ukraine today lacks a party that represents women’s interests. The same share believe that women are insufficiently represented in the Government, the Verkhovna Rada, and local authorities. Older respondents and women agreed with these theses more often.
• 36% of respondents believe that their vote does not decide anything in elections. 58% hold the opposite opinion. Residents of the West, younger respondents, and men disagreed with this statement relatively more often.
• 82% support women entering politics. 12% hold the opposite view. At the same time, on issues of leadership and making balanced decisions, responses were distributed as follows: more than 40% of respondents predominantly chose a neutral answer as to who is better — men or women — at occupying leadership positions and making decisions. However, when comparing direct answers, respondents nevertheless tended to give preference to men, especially when it came to politics. Moreover, while opinions of men and women differed somewhat regarding leadership in a team and decision-making, with respect to political leadership and making balanced political decisions both genders more often favored men.
• When assessing the effectiveness of representatives of both genders in political and elected positions, respondents most often agreed that gender does not play a significant role in effective performance as a member of parliament or a local councilor. At the same time, despite the fact that a relative majority agreed that both men and women can effectively perform the duties of a city or village mayor, head of a regional state administration, government minister, Prime Minister, and President of Ukraine, respondents still somewhat more often stated that men would be more effective in these roles. Meanwhile, in positions such as Commissioner for Peacebuilding in Donbas (a position invented for the survey) and Minister of Defense, respondents see men as more effective. Notably, no significant gender differences were recorded in responses to these questions.
• Among the most recognizable female members of parliament are Yuliia Tymoshenko (recognized by 97% of respondents) and Nataliia Korolevska (recognized by 76%). At the same time, 28% trust Yuliia Tymoshenko, and 20% trust Nataliia Korolevska. Iryna Herashchenko is recognized by 66%, and trusted by 21%. Other female MPs are recognized by less than 60% of respondents.
• In the regional breakdown, the highest trust ratings are for Yuliia Tymoshenko in the Center (31%), Nataliia Korolevska in the East (30%) and South (28%), and Iryna Herashchenko in the West (30%). According to respondents, among the listed politicians Yuliia Tymoshenko has the greatest political prospects (29%), followed by Nataliia Korolevska (10%) and Iryna Herashchenko (7%).
• The question on the distribution of gender roles produced the following results: according to respondents, in their family (couple) women more often cook food (64%). Only about a quarter stated that this role is shared equally. Responsibilities for childrearing and household chores are also, in respondents’ opinion, more often assigned to women (52% and 43%, respectively). At the same time, regarding childrearing, respondents somewhat more often stated that this role is shared equally than in the case of household chores. As for free time, responses were distributed as follows: women — 33%, men — 30%, both genders equally — 28%. Leadership in the family (couple) is somewhat more often attributed to men — 39% hold this view; 29% believe women play this role; and 29% believe it is shared equally. More than half of respondents believe that in their family (couple) the man earns more money; 23% think this applies to women; and 17% believe both earn approximately equally.
• In dynamics since 2015, there has been a gradual decrease in the share of those who believe that cooking, household chores, and childrearing are more often performed by women. At the same time, the number of those who believe that women have more free time, are heads of the family, and earn more money is increasing. Notably, men’s and women’s opinions on the distribution of roles such as cooking, household chores, and childrearing do not differ significantly. However, regarding family leadership and earning money, there is a clearly opposite perception of these roles between the two genders.
• An absolute majority of respondents agree with the statements that the most important task of a woman is to take care of the home and family (83%), and that the most important task of a man is to earn money (75%). 78% agree that women more often than men make decisions based on emotions. 67% agree that it is acceptable for men to cry (25% disagree). 68% agree that women have less freedom due to family obligations (27% disagree). 51% agree with the statement that women are less interested than men in holding responsible political positions (34% disagree). At the same time, nearly two thirds of respondents disagree with the statement that women lack the necessary knowledge and skills to hold responsible political positions, while a quarter agree. Notably, women more often than men agreed with statements about women making decisions under emotional influence, the acceptability of men crying, women having less freedom due to family responsibilities, and women being less interested in holding responsible positions.

• According to the results of a survey conducted by Rating Group during the fieldwork dates of February 21–25, 2020, 77% of respondents intend to celebrate March 8 this year. At the same time, 19% stated that they do not plan to celebrate. Compared to a similar survey conducted in 2012, the share of those who do not celebrate this day has slightly increased. Relatively more such respondents are found in the western region of the country, as well as among the youngest and the oldest age groups. Notably, among men there are slightly more respondents who intend to celebrate March 8 than among women.
• For the majority of respondents (68%), March 8 is a good occasion to do something pleasant for close women. This interpretation is relatively more common among young people and residents of the eastern and southern regions.
• Eleven percent consider March 8 to be an ordinary day, and since 2013 the share of such respondents has doubled. This view is more common among residents of the western region. Notably, women (13%) describe this day as ordinary more often than men (8%).
• Only 9% perceive this holiday as a symbol of women’s struggle for their rights, while 8% describe it as a holiday rooted in the Soviet past. The latter perception is more characteristic of older respondents.
• The majority of respondents (87%) do not support the idea of abolishing the March 8 holiday, compared to 91% in 2012. Only 9% support this idea, more often in the western region (18%); however, even there, the majority (73%) do not support such an initiative.

• According to the results of a survey conducted by Rating Group among residents of constituency No. 179, respondents assess local conditions significantly more positively than the overall situation in the country. Only 19% believe the country is moving in the right direction, while 63% think otherwise. Regarding the situation in the region, 24% say things are moving in the right direction, 51% in the wrong direction, and about a quarter could not assess. At the local level, nearly a third believe things are developing in the right direction, while 56% say the opposite. Urban residents, younger people, and more affluent respondents are more optimistic than other groups.
• 43% of respondents are satisfied with the performance of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while 45% are dissatisfied. Urban residents, younger respondents, and those with higher incomes rate the President’s work more positively. Among party supporters, the highest share of positive evaluations comes from supporters of Servant of the People, while the most critical views are held by voters of European Solidarity and Opposition Platform – For Life.
• Yuliia Svitlychna leads the trust ratings among local politicians: 70% trust her and 21% do not. S. Chernov, Head of the Kharkiv Regional Council, is trusted by 24%, distrusted by 22%, and 45% do not know him. O. Kucher, Head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, is trusted by 24%, distrusted by 29%, 28% do not know him, and 19% were undecided. V. Alekseychuk is largely unknown (84%); 3% trust her and 11% do not.
• 67% of respondents are aware that by-elections for a Member of Parliament in their constituency will take place on March 15, 2020. 64% expressed definite readiness to participate. Pre-election mobilization is somewhat higher among older and less affluent residents.
• Yuliia Svitlychna leads electoral preferences among candidates: 62.3% of decided voters who intend to vote are ready to support her. 12.5% support V. Alekseychuk (candidate of Servant of the People), and 8.5% support O. Didenko (representing Opposition Platform – For Life). Other candidates each receive less than 2%. About one in five voters remains undecided.
• In party ratings, Servant of the People leads with 42.8% among decided voters intending to participate. Opposition Platform – For Life follows with 30.4%. Other parties trail significantly: Batkivshchyna (4.8%), Radical Party (4.2%), European Solidarity (3.6%), Shariy Party (2.6%), and Strength and Honor (2.3%). Others are below 1%. About 11–12% are undecided.
• 55% do not know who represented the constituency before the by-election, while 42% do. Only 21% believe the previous MP paid sufficient attention to local issues; 51% disagree, and 28% could not answer.
• The most pressing regional problems, according to respondents, are lack of jobs (67%) and low wage levels. Other key issues include industrial decline (38%), poor road conditions (36%), poor-quality medical services (34%), poverty (33%), decline of agriculture (26%), drug addiction and alcoholism (23%), and depopulation of villages (20%).

• According to the results of a survey conducted by the Rating Group on February 22–23, 2020, 74% of respondents do not support the protests against the placement of Ukrainians evacuated from China that took place shortly before the survey. Only 15% support such actions, while 11% were undecided.
• The higher the level of education and income, the stronger the rejection of the protests against evacuation. In regional terms, the highest share of those who did not support such actions was recorded in the South of the country (80%).

• The results of a survey conducted by the Rating Group during February 5–11, 2020, in Ternopil demonstrated that city residents assess the local situation significantly better than the overall situation in the country. Thus, only 18% believe that the country is moving in the right direction, while 59% hold the opposite opinion. At the same time, almost half say that affairs in Ternopil are developing in the right direction, while 35% say the opposite.
• Among local politicians, residents of Ternopil have the most positive attitude toward the city mayor S. Nadal: 59% positive, 16% negative, 24% neutral. Attitudes toward S. Barna are positive among 21%, negative among 31%, neutral among 35%, and 13% do not know him. Attitudes toward R. Pastukh are positive among 16%, negative among 13%, neutral among 26%, and 44% do not know him. Attitudes toward M. Ratushniak are positive among 14%, negative among 12%, neutral among 21%, and 53% do not know him. Attitudes toward P. Landiak are positive among 14%, negative among 10%, neutral among 21%, and 56% do not know him. Attitudes toward V. Hevko are positive among 10%, negative among 11%, neutral among 20%, and 59% do not know him. More than 60% of respondents do not know other politicians.
• The leader in trust among national politicians among residents of Ternopil is Volodymyr Zelenskyi: 42% trust him, while 50% do not. A. Hrytsenko is trusted by 30% and not trusted by 52%; S. Vakarchuk by 28% and 56% respectively; P. Poroshenko by 22% and 71%; I. Smeshko by 22% and 51%, while 16% do not know him; Y. Tymoshenko by 14% and 77%; O. Tiahnybok by 14% and 75%; O. Liashko by 11% and 82%; Y. Boiko by 6% and 68%, while 15% do not know him.
• Residents of Ternopil are rather dissatisfied with the activities of the central authorities. Thus, 49% are dissatisfied with the activities of President V. Zelenskyi, 39% are satisfied, and 13% could not assess. 61% are dissatisfied with the activities of Prime Minister O. Honcharuk, 19% are satisfied, and 21% could not assess. 70% are dissatisfied with the activities of the Verkhovna Rada, while only 15% are satisfied and 15% could not assess.
• At the same time, residents of Ternopil are more satisfied with the local authorities. Thus, 68% are satisfied with the activities of Mayor S. Nadal, while 23% are dissatisfied. 52% are satisfied with the activities of the city council, 29% are dissatisfied, and 19% could not assess.
• 55% are satisfied with the operation of public transport in Ternopil, while 33% are dissatisfied and 12% could not assess. 45% are satisfied with educational institutions, 27% are dissatisfied, and 28% could not assess. Residents are rather dissatisfied with other areas of city life: 55% are dissatisfied with municipal services and 35% are satisfied; 56% are dissatisfied with medical institutions and 29% are satisfied.
• A high level of electoral mobilization is observed among residents of Ternopil. About 80% of respondents stated their definite readiness to participate in both parliamentary and local elections.
• The ranking of political parties in parliamentary elections is led by the Servant of the People party, with 29.9% among those who have decided and intend to vote. 19.0% are ready to vote for the European Solidarity party. The Strength and Honor party is supported by 7.9%, Svoboda by 7.3%, Holos by 6.7%, and Batkivshchyna by 6.1%. The ratings of other political forces are below 3%. Nearly one third are undecided.
• In the ranking of political parties in local elections, the Servant of the People party is also the leader, supported by 27.4% of those who have decided and intend to vote. 17.4% support the Svoboda party, 13.3% the European Solidarity party, 7.7% Strength and Honor, 7.1% Holos, 4.7% Batkivshchyna, 3.6% Civic Position, and 3.2% Samopomich. The ratings of other parties are below 3%. About one third are undecided.
• Among mayoral candidates, the leader in the ranking is S. Nadal, who would be supported by 60.8% of those who have decided and intend to participate in the elections. 6.1% could support S. Barna or V. Hevko, 4.3% P. Landiak, and 3.4% M. Ratushniak. The ratings of other candidates are below 3%. About 20% are undecided.
• Modeling of the second round of mayoral elections showed that if S. Nadal were to face any of the other potential candidates, the incumbent mayor would win. In a pair with V. Hevko the result would be 59% versus 16%; with S. Barna 60% versus 12%; with M. Cherkashyn 60% versus 11%. At the same time, it should be taken into account that from a quarter to one third of respondents have not yet decided on their choice or do not want to participate in voting in these second-round combinations.
• 75% of respondents believe that during the current term of S. Nadal as mayor the situation in Ternopil has improved. 16% believe it has not changed, and only 3% state that it has worsened.
• 53% are convinced that as a result of local elections the situation in Ternopil will improve, 23% believe it will not change, and 23% could not answer. Only 1% expect deterioration.
• The military conflict in eastern Ukraine tops the ranking of nationwide problems among residents of Ternopil at 68%. One third are concerned about bribery and corruption in government, the lack of jobs, or low wages and pensions. At the level of personal problems, residents are most concerned about low wages and pensions at 43%, the war in the East at 36%, and rising utility tariffs at 32%. A quarter are worried about bribery and corruption, 20% about rising prices for basic goods, 18% about unemployment, and 15% about the inability to obtain quality medical care.
• Among city problems, respondents most often selected the cost of utility services at 42%. In addition, a significant share consider poor road conditions at 30%, chaotic construction of high-rise buildings at 22%, corruption in city authorities at 21%, traffic congestion at 19%, drug addiction and alcoholism at 16%, lack of parking spaces at 15%, the cost of public transport fares at 14%, the presence of stray animals on the streets at 13%, low professional qualifications of medical staff at 13%, the quality of public transport services at 11%, and poor condition of sidewalks and pedestrian paths at 11% to be problems.
• According to residents of Ternopil, the main priorities for the work of city authorities should be medical institutions at 41%, the quality of housing and utility services at 37%, road quality at 30%, job creation at 26%, combating corruption at 23%, the quality of public transport at 21%, attracting investment to the city at 18%, and educational institutions at 18%. 15% believe that city authorities should first address waste collection and disposal, while 10–11% point to social protection of the poor, city safety, or sidewalks and adjacent territories.
• Residents consider sidewalks and adjacent territories to be the main achievements of the current mayor S. Nadal at 58%. Other achievements include road quality at 31%, renovation of parks and squares at 24%, street lighting at 17%, the quality of public transport at 16%, and the availability of sports facilities at 16%.
• 91% of respondents consider the city comfortable for tourism, 82% for living, and 75% for recreation. 44% consider Ternopil comfortable for work, while almost the same share hold the opposite view. An absolute majority of residents at 94% are proud to live in Ternopil.
• 46% of respondents stated that among their close relatives there are those who are currently working abroad. One quarter stated that they themselves had worked abroad during the past five years. 14% plan to go abroad for work this year. The highest share of those who have relatives working abroad, who have worked abroad themselves, or who express a desire to do so is among the youngest age group.
• The main motive for labor migration, according to respondents, is the desire of migrant workers for a better life for themselves and their relatives at 58%. 12% state that labor migrants seek to realize their potential, while 27% believe that this group does not see a future in Ukraine.
• About 40% of respondents stated that they live with children of different ages.
• 41% stated that they have lived in Ternopil since birth, 43% have lived in the city for more than 10 years, 8% for 5 to 10 years, and 6% for less than 5 years.
• 87% of residents of Ternopil stated that they live in their own housing, while 13% live in rented accommodation. The latter are most common among the youngest age group and those who have lived in Ternopil for less than 10 years.

• The results of a survey conducted by the Sociological Group “Rating” during January 22–26, 2020, demonstrated the predominance of expectations for change (50%) and hope (42%) among the population. At the same time, one third of respondents feel disappointment, one in five feel insecurity, tension, or indignation, and one in eight experience despair and confusion. Over the past two years, expectations for change and hope have increased in society, while disappointment, tension, and indignation have decreased. Positive emotions prevail among younger and more affluent respondents, while negative emotions are more common among older and poorer groups.
• The leader in terms of trust is President Volodymyr Zelenskyi: 59% trust him, while 32% do not. Trust in other key political figures has a negative balance: 26% trust Dmytro Razumkov and 44% do not; Yurii Boiko – 25% trust and 56% do not; Sviatoslav Vakarchuk – 22% trust and 62% do not; Oleksii Honcharuk – 20% trust and 53% do not; Yuliia Tymoshenko – 20% trust and 73% do not; Petro Poroshenko – 15% trust and 78% do not.
• The political party ratings are led by “Servant of the People,” supported by 42.2% of those who have decided and intend to vote. The “Opposition Platform – For Life” is supported by 13.5%, “European Solidarity” by 9.5%, and “Batkivshchyna” by 8.1%. Support for other parties is below 4%. About 16% of respondents remain undecided.
• Ending military hostilities in eastern Ukraine remains the key public demand addressed to the President (64%). Strengthening the fight against corruption is expected by 45%, revival of industry by 30%, raising social standards by 24%, and improving the quality of healthcare by 22%. In recent months, the importance of demands related to ending the war and reviving industry has increased.
• When choosing economic development priorities for allocating state resources, respondents tend to support the development of industry and investment (65%), while 28% favor increasing subsidies and social benefits.
• When choosing between raising salaries for medical workers and developing schools, hospitals, and introducing new technologies, 59% support the latter priority, while 29% favor increasing wages.
• Forty-five percent believe that the authorities should prioritize spending resources on supporting socially vulnerable groups, while almost the same share (46%) believe resources should be directed toward creating conditions that stimulate public activity.
• Forty-six percent believe the state should focus on identifying and punishing corrupt officials, while the same share argue that priority should be given to reducing opportunities for corruption.
• The main indicators of positive economic change, according to respondents, are the opening of new enterprises (54%) and the creation of new jobs (54%). One third believe improvement would be indicated by a reduction in labor migration abroad, one quarter by an increase in the minimum wage, and one in five by lower prices for basic goods.
• In the social sphere, key indicators of positive change include improved quality of healthcare (50%), increased pensions (41%), and greater support for socially vulnerable groups (36%). One quarter consider the construction of new schools, kindergartens, and hospitals an indicator of improvement, while one in five point to improved quality of education and increased life expectancy.
• Pensioners are considered the most vulnerable group requiring priority attention from the state (57%). Forty-two percent believe that people with disabilities or orphans should be prioritized, while 36% say low-income families should receive primary assistance. Around 22–24% mention large families and participants in military operations (ATO).
• Seventy-six percent of respondents watched President Zelenskyi’s New Year address. Among them, two thirds assessed it positively, 22% neutrally, and 13% negatively.

• According to the results of a survey conducted by the Sociological Group “Rating” during December 18–23, 2019, among the main utility services respondents are most satisfied with the quality of electricity supply services (76%), while 22% are dissatisfied. More than half of respondents are satisfied with gas supply, waste collection, and cold water supply services, while about one quarter are dissatisfied. One third of respondents are satisfied with the cleaning of adjacent territories, one quarter are dissatisfied, and more than one third do not use these services. Thirty percent are satisfied with heating supply, 22% are dissatisfied, and 45% do not use it. Only 17% are satisfied with hot water supply, the same share are dissatisfied, and 63% do not use it.
• Regarding the assessment of the cost of utility services, the situation is as follows: among service users, the most critical relative to income are the costs of heating supply, gas supply, and hot water supply. At least two thirds of those who use these services consider their cost to be high. As for electricity supply, half of respondents consider the price high, while about 40% assess the electricity price for households as average. A similar situation applies to cold water supply. The assessment of the cost of cleaning adjacent territories and waste collection is less critical: about 40% consider the price average, and one third consider it high. Cost assessments correlate with income level and age of respondents: the worse the material situation and the older the respondents, the more negatively service costs affect the household budget. At the same time, those who are more satisfied with service quality assess their cost more loyally.
• Only 12% of respondents consider Ukraine to be a fully energy-independent country. Half of respondents believe that Ukraine is partially dependent on other states in this matter, while 23% consider it fully dependent. This latter opinion is most common among the least affluent respondents and those who support joining the Customs Union with Russia. Over the past one and a half years, the share of those who state that Ukraine is fully energy independent has decreased (in July 2018 this share was 20%).
• One quarter of respondents believe that over the past year Ukraine has become more dependent on energy resources from other states, while 17% hold the opposite view. Forty percent believe that nothing has changed. In July 2018, one quarter believed that Ukraine was becoming more autonomous in energy. Regarding energy dependence on Russia, respondents’ opinions are distributed as follows: one quarter state that Ukraine has become more independent from the Russian Federation in the energy sector over the year, 34% believe that nothing has changed, while 24% speak about an increase in dependence. Compared to 2018, the share of those who believe that Ukraine is moving toward energy independence from Russia has decreased (in July 2018 it was 45%).
• Forty percent of respondents believe that Ukraine produces electricity independently, while almost the same share believe that the country produces part of its electricity independently and purchases part abroad. The situation with gas and petroleum products differs significantly: only 3–4% believe that Ukraine produces or extracts them independently. Regarding gas, 57% are convinced that Ukraine produces part of this energy resource independently and purchases part. As for petroleum products, 41% believe that Ukraine imports them, while 36% are convinced that Ukraine has its own production of petroleum products but purchases part abroad.
• Two thirds of respondents hold a positive-neutral position regarding Ukraine’s import of gas and petroleum products from European countries and Belarus. At the same time, every fourth to fifth respondent expresses objections on this issue. Attitudes toward gas imports from Russia are more critical: about 40% view this negatively, while about one quarter view it positively or neutrally. Negative attitudes toward imports from European countries prevail among residents of the East, older respondents, and lower-income groups. Regarding imports from Russia, negative attitudes prevail in the West of the country.
• The issue of electricity imports from other countries is perceived more critically by respondents. Despite the fact that a positive-neutral position toward imports from Europe and Belarus prevails overall (26–29% positive, 27–30% neutral), the share of critics is higher compared to the issue of gas or petroleum product imports (35–37%). Regarding electricity imports from Russia, 55% view this negatively. Only 18% assess it positively and 21% neutrally. More critical attitudes toward electricity imports from Europe are observed among residents of the South and East, and toward imports from Russia among residents of the Center and West.
• Almost two thirds of respondents do not support the decision to resume electricity imports from Russia, while 29% support it. This decision faced the strongest criticism among respondents from the West and Center. Among residents of the South and East, the decision was also perceived ambiguously.
• Sixty-five percent believe that the decision to resume electricity imports from Russia primarily benefits oligarchs. Only 11% believe it will benefit the population of Ukraine, and 8% believe it will benefit industrial enterprises.
• The assessment of energy imports from Russia from the perspective of national security divides respondents to some extent: about 40% consider it a threat, while nearly the same share do not. Regarding the purchase of energy resources from European countries, this idea is not perceived as a threat by the majority of the population (64%). Residents of the South and East of the country are more loyal to the issue of importing energy resources from the Russian Federation.
• From half to two thirds of respondents know nothing about the activities of key officials in the energy sector. Thus, 58% know nothing about the work of the Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection Oleksii Orzhel. Twenty percent assess his work negatively, 14% neutrally, and 3% positively. Fifty percent do not know about the Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy and Housing and Communal Services Andrii Herus. Twenty-seven percent assess his work negatively, 14% neutrally, and 3% positively. Fifty-nine percent do not know about the Head of the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities (NEURC) Valerii Tarasiuk. Twenty percent assess his activity negatively, 13% neutrally, and only 2% positively. Negative attitudes toward these officials prevail among representatives of the older age group.

• According to the results of a study conducted by the Rating Group, 25% of Ukrainian respondents support the idea of moving the celebration of Christmas from January 7 to December 25. Sixty-four percent of respondents oppose this idea. Another 7% stated that they are indifferent to this issue, and 4% were unable to answer.
• In dynamics, the share of those who support rescheduling the date of Christmas has increased. In 2016, only 15% supported this idea, while 69% were opposed.
• The highest level of support for moving Christmas is observed in the western region, where 43% support the idea and almost the same share do not support it. In other macro-regions, respondents are more likely to oppose the change: in the central region, 23% are in favor and 66% are against; in the southern region, 15% and 74%, respectively; in the eastern region, 14% and 74%. Slightly higher support for this initiative is observed among more affluent respondents and among those of middle and older age.

• According to the results of a survey conducted by the Rating Group during December 13–17, 2019, the majority of respondents (47%) consider Volodymyr Zelenskyi to be the politician of 2019 in Ukraine.
• Yurii Boiko, Dmytro Razumkov, and Yuliia Tymoshenko were named by 8–10% of respondents each, while Petro Poroshenko, Viktor Medvedchuk, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, and Volodymyr Groysman were mentioned by 5–7%.
• Volodymyr Zelenskyi as politician of the year received support across all age and regional groups. At the same time, Yurii Boiko, Viktor Medvedchuk, and Vadym Rabinovych were more often chosen by residents of the South and East, Yuliia Tymoshenko by residents of the Center and West, and Petro Poroshenko by residents of the West. Notably, among supporters of the European Solidarity, Batkivshchyna, and Opposition Platform – For Life parties, the leaders of these political forces were more often chosen as politicians of the year than Volodymyr Zelenskyi. At the same time, among supporters of the Holos party, the Head of State received a higher result than Sviatoslav Vakarchuk.
• Ukrainians consider the release of Ukrainian captured sailors and other political prisoners to be the event of the year (48%), as well as the Presidential elections in Ukraine (44%).
• One in five respondents considers the resumption of negotiations on the situation in Donbas in the Normandy format (Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France) to be the event of the year. Fifteen percent named the elections to the Verkhovna Rada, 13% the qualification of the Ukrainian national football team for the final stage of the UEFA European Championship 2020, and one in ten the strengthening of the hryvnia exchange rate.

• According to the results of a survey conducted by the Rating Group on December 2–8, 2019, among residents of Irpin and the surrounding area (Priirpinia), 43% of respondents believe that affairs in the city are moving in the right direction, 28% think they are moving in the wrong direction, and 30% were undecided.
• Assessments of the situation in Ukraine as a whole are less optimistic. Only 31% of respondents believe that the country is moving in the right direction, while 36% think it is moving in the wrong direction, and 32% were unable to provide an answer. Nevertheless, since March 2019, assessments of the situation both in Irpin and nationwide have shown a positive dynamic.
• Among perceived opportunities, residents rated the possibility of living close to nature with good environmental conditions, as well as opportunities for rest and leisure, the highest. Respondents see fewer opportunities in terms of achieving personal success, entrepreneurship, and especially finding employment.
• The most pressing local problems identified by respondents are the shortage of kindergartens (37%), insufficient capacity in schools (34%), and deforestation for construction purposes (30%). About a quarter of respondents consider drug addiction and alcoholism, as well as the cost of utility services, to be significant local problems. Other concerns—mentioned by 10–16% of respondents—include urban overdevelopment, corruption in local authorities, traffic congestion, lack of jobs, waste collection, and the quality of medical services. Around 9% pointed to poor road conditions, public transport fares, transport links with Kyiv, rising crime, and water supply issues.
• Among national political figures, Volodymyr Zelensky enjoys the highest level of trust (48% trust, 34% distrust). Other politicians are generally trusted less than they are distrusted. Sviatoslav Vakarchuk is trusted by 20% and distrusted by 58%; Petro Poroshenko by 13% and 70%, Yuriy Boyko by 12% and 56%, and Yulia Tymoshenko by 11% and 71%, respectively.
• 70% of respondents stated their firm intention to participate in parliamentary elections if they were held in the near future. Among political parties, the “Servant of the People” party leads electoral preferences, supported by 45.4% of decided voters. It is followed by European Solidarity (14.8%), Batkivshchyna (8.4%), Opposition Platform – For Life (5.3%), Voice (4.8%), and Strength and Honor (3.9%). Support for other parties does not exceed 3%, while approximately one quarter of respondents remain undecided.
• Two-thirds of respondents also expressed readiness to participate in upcoming local elections for the mayor and city council of Irpin. Among parties potentially participating in local elections, Servant of the People again leads with 38.5% support among decided voters, followed by European Solidarity (13.6%), New Faces (9.9%), Batkivshchyna (6.4%), Opposition Platform – For Life (5.9%), Voice (4.6%), and Strength and Honor (3.1%). About a quarter of respondents have not yet decided.
• 58% of respondents consider corruption in the city government to be a serious problem, while 17% believe it is insignificant, and 25% were unable to assess it. Compared to March 2019, the share of those who downplay the seriousness of corruption has decreased.
• When assessing the resignation of Irpin mayor Volodymyr Karpliuk, 37% of respondents believe it was an attempt to avoid responsibility for corruption-related abuses. In contrast, 25% view it as a response to political pressure from law enforcement agencies on him and his team. About one third were unable to provide an opinion. Over the past year, the proportion of respondents who believe Karpliuk resigned to avoid accountability for corruption has nearly doubled.