News and Press releases

On July 4-5, 2025, Rating Group asked Ukrainians about the U.S. support for Ukraine, efforts to achieve peace, and trust in Ukrainian politicians and military-political leadership.

Support from the U.S.

• Ukrainians expect that the U.S. will not stop supplying weapons.
• At the same time, only 11% of respondents expect that the U.S. will supply Ukraine with weapons in full, while only 8% do not expect any U.S. military assistance.
• At the same time, a quarter expect that the assistance will be minimal, and the majority (53%) expect partial, that is, it will be maintained.

Efforts to achieve peace

• The assessment of the Ukrainian negotiating team's efforts to achieve peace has decreased: in June, 48% of respondents believed that it was "doing everything possible," whereas 36% shared this opinion in July.
• In contrast, the majority (60%) believe that President Zelenskyy is doing everything possible to achieve peace.

Trust in politicians, officials

• Valeriy Zaluzhny (73%), Volodymyr Zelenskyy (67%) and Kyrylo Budanov (56%) are trusted the most.
• Oleksandr Syrskyi is trusted less (41%). Denys Shmyhal is trusted by a quarter of respondents.

Rating Group surveyed over 5,000 teenagers and their parents for the study ‘Index of the Future: Professional Expectations and Development of Teenagers in Ukraine’! This is a project of our partners KSE Institute and UNICEF, which was carried out on the initiative of the Olena Zelenska Foundation in cooperation with the humanitarian organisation People in Need and with the financial support of the Czech people.

Rating Group collected data using the unique Family 360° family survey technology. The focus here is on the child, who takes the survey themselves, as well as their parents, family members, and in some cases teachers, doctors, psychologists, etc. Comparing the answers of children and their parents allows us to understand the relationships and changes within the family.

Below are some of the findings that our partners have discovered thanks to this data.

Vision of the future

• 82% of teenagers see their future as promising.
• The majority (60%) also consider Ukraine's future to be promising.
• At the same time, one in four children see their future abroad. Children whose parents would also like them to emigrate, as well as children who see Ukraine's future as hopeless (in general or rather), are more likely to want to live abroad.

Career guidance

• 8/10 teenagers have already thought about their future career. Girls (85%) think about this slightly more often than boys (74%).
• At the same time, only 30% were able to name a specific profession or type of employment they would like to pursue in the future.
• The most common career guidance activities are talking to parents (74%), searching the Internet for information about professions (56%) and educational institutions (44%), searching for grants and other opportunities (23%), and taking tests (17%).
• Teenagers whose parents discuss the future with them are more likely to think about their future profession (83% compared to 60% whose parents do not discuss these issues with them).

How is society's attitude toward the military changing? Should we expect serious conflicts?

Follow the link to read a new article by BBC News Ukraine with data from Rating Group. Lyubomyr Mysiv, deputy director of the company, provides commentary.

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Cover image: Getty Images/BBC collage.

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On June 25, 2025, the Deposit Guarantee Fund presented the results of a nationwide survey on financial services consumers' awareness of the deposit guarantee system. For the second time since 2022, data for this socio-economic study was collected by Rating Group.

“We understand how much Ukraine has changed since the start of the full-scale invasion... And it is important that, despite such colossal changes, the data shows growing confidence in the banking system and the Deposit Guarantee Fund,” said Oleksiy Antypovych, CEO of Rating Group.

Links:

• Research results
• Video recording of the conference

On June 24, 2025, the Deposit Guarantee Fund presented the results of a new study of the financial habits of Ukrainians. The data for this study - for the second time since the beginning of the full-scale invasion - was collected by the Rating Group.

In spring, Rating Group interviewed Ukrainians who have bank accounts and/or use any financial services. According to the data, our partners learned, in particular, the following:

• Confidence in banks is growing despite the full-scale war (68% in 2025 compared to 56% in 2021)
• When choosing a bank, respondents primarily consider its reliability/stability (54%)
• There is a demand for information on bank deposit guarantee (35%) and compensation to depositors of bankrupt banks (30%)

The research report (ukr.) is available on the website of the Deposit Guarantee Fund and in the attached file.

As part of the global End of Year Survey by Gallup International (conducted at the end of 2024), Rating Group asked Ukrainians: does a mobile device improve the quality of their life?

The End of Year Survey (EoY) is an annual global survey by Gallup International which studies opinions of people in different countries. It includes the topics of the future, happiness, and economic expectations. In 2024, 35 882 respondents were surveyed in 35 countries.

This is the second time the Rating Group conducted the EoY survey in Ukraine.

Key Findings

• The vast majority of Ukrainians (92%) feel that a mobile device improves the quality of their life to one degree or another.
• In the world overall, the prevailing opinion is that a mobile device improves the quality of life (84%). That is, Ukraine is among the countries with the most positive perception of the mobile devices' role.
• Among the countries where a mobile device significantly improves the quality of life, China, Malaysia, Kenya and South Korea stand out.
• In Iraq, Armenia, and Japan, the share of people who see benefits in mobile device is the smallest. Nevertheless, in these countries, the majority of respondents still believe that mobile devices improve life.

Rating Group found out how Ukrainians perceive happiness and life during the war. This is a part of the global End of Year Survey by Gallup International (conducted at the end of 2024).

The End of Year Survey (EoY) is an annual global survey by Gallup International which studies opinions of people in different countries. It includes the topics of the future, happiness, and economic expectations. In 2024, 35 882 respondents were surveyed in 35 countries.

This is the second time the Rating Group conducted the EoY survey in Ukraine.

Key Findings

• In terms of happiness, Ukraine is second from the bottom among the 35 countries that participated in the study (last is India): only 33% of Ukrainians feel happy. Instead, 28% are unhappy.
• About 40% of Ukrainians choose the option "in the middle" between feeling happy/unhappy. In the context of war, this indicates rather the experience of contrasting, changing emotions (from elation to despair, depending on the situation).
• And although more than a third of respondents worry a lot about their lives, the majority of Ukrainians (62%) still perceive life "as it is", adapting to the realities of war.
• The percentage of the answer "very worried" in Ukraine practically coincides with the world average. Colombia, Argentina, Japan, Iran, and India are the countries with the largest shares of respondents who are worried abouth their life.
• In contrast, in Saudi Arabia, China, South Korea, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, have the smallest share of those who worry a lot about their lives.

Data collected by Rating Group became the basis of an important study "What motivates women to stay in Ukraine?" This is a project of our partners: Center for Economic Strategy and the Institute for Behavioral Studies at the American University Kyiv.

An online survey of Ukrainian women in Ukraine and abroad was conducted on January 23-30 on the Rating Online platform. The research team found out that:

• The vast majority of women (75%) do not plan to move abroad, but young women aged 18-29 (26%) are relatively more likely to have such a desire
• The main reasons for staying in Ukraine are family (91%) and a sense of belonging to Ukraine (88%), own housing/household (72%) and established infrastructure
• The main motivators for leaving are the desire for a better standard of living (75%) and security (73%)
• Ukrainian women abroad assess all risks of living in Ukraine much higher than women in Ukraine

More results of the study are in the research report (available in the attached file and on the website of the Center for Economic Strategy).

The study was conducted with the support of the UK Government through the UK Department for International Development as part of the project to support the Government of Ukraine in developing and implementing evidence-based policies to address demographic challenges, implemented by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, in collaboration with the NGO “UA Experts”.

On May 16, the Sociological Group Rating conducted a nationwide survey of the adult population of Ukraine on the topic of negotiations that took place in Turkey.

• According to the results, the absolute majority of respondents (74%) support the initiative of a 30-day ceasefire without any conditions.
• Most consider President Zelensky's last visit to Turkey a success (53%).
• The level of trust in President Zelensky among Ukrainians has stabilized at 70%, which is higher than at the beginning of the year (53-58%).
• Despite the fact that only a quarter of respondents believe that the talks in Turkey will bring us closer to peace, the respondents believe that Ukraine should continue to show openness to negotiations, and that President Zelensky (47%) can participate in them, even in the absence of Putin.
• According to Ukrainians, the main reasons for Putin's absence from the negotiations are unwillingness to end the war (54%) and fear (22%).

On May 6, 2025, a report of the joint study by the Rating Group, Steel Swallow Community, Zagoriy Foundation, and Halt Space on the topic of civil-military partnership in Ukraine was released. The research team learned the views of Ukrainian military personnel and civilians, identifying the main development prospects and barriers for cooperation.

Data collection consisted of three stages:

1. Qualitative survey of civilians: focus groups and in-depth interviews with civilians aged 22-55.
2. Quantitative survey of civilians: telephone survey (CATI) of the adult population of Ukraine (aged 18+).
3. Qualitative survey of the military: in-depth interviews with military personnel aged 22-55.

The report is available in the attached file and on the Steel Swallow Community website.

Civilians respect veterans, but do not always understand their experience. Therefore, certain positive and negative stereotypes and challenges for the adaptation of veterans are formed.

This is stated in the joint study "Stigmatization of Veterans: The Situation in Ukraine and the Experience of the USA" by the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veteran Affairs, the Rating Group and Syracuse University, which was presented on April 17, 2025. Rating Group carried out the second stage of the study - an analysis of the views of the partners of veterans regarding their stigmatization.

The company's director Oleksiy Antipovych also joined the presentation of the results.

This project also continues our good tradition of cooperation with the Ukrainian Veterans Fund, which has been ongoing since researching the image of veterans and the challenges in their experience.

See the research report at the link.

Thank you to all partners for their cooperation!

On April 17, 2025, the presentation of the study “Stigmatization of Veterans and Veterans” took place. This is a joint project of the Ukrainian Veterans Fund of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, Rating Group and Syracuse University.

The study consisted of three stages:

1. In-depth interviews with veterans and veterans about the experience of stigmatization.
2. Focus groups and in-depth interviews with partners of veterans and veterans, that is, analysis of observations of close people regarding stigmatization.
3. Content analysis of news about events from the life of veterans and veterans.

Find out about the second stage of the study (conducted by the Rating Group) below:

The release of the study is also available at Ukrainian Veterans Fund website.

Stigmatization of veterans/ok: the view of loved ones

• According to relatives, the attitude of society towards veterans is generally better than before February 2022 (compared to the experience of ATO veterans, in particular).
• At the same time, civilians often show a misunderstanding of how to treat military and veterans. They have feelings of guilt, pity and fear towards veterans, as well as stereotypes regarding the psychological state.
• Stereotypes about veteran women and veterans with disabilities remain a challenge. Women veterans were distrusted because of the association of the military profession only with men, and the fact that women served in the military was perceived as a violation of gender roles.
• They show respect for veterans with disabilities, but there is ignorance about correct communication with them. This causes fear and separation from them.
• The image of veterans and veterans in the Ukrainian media is positive. Veterans are mostly depicted as courageous, strong, successful, heroic. But there may also be some unrealism of heroized images of veterans in the media.
• The media sometimes over-romanticizes the life of veterans, there is a shift in focus from problems in the lives of veterans and veterans
• Potential dangers of stigmatizing veterans: loss of authority, potential conflicts between military and civilians, feelings of injustice on the part of veterans.

Swedish society strongly opposes any concessions to Russia that could mean Ukraine's surrender in exchange for peace. This is the key insight of a recent Gallup Nordic/Novus study, which is based on a similar poll by the Rating Group among Ukrainians.

The “mirror” Gallup Nordic/Novus study is a powerful testament to the shared values ​​of Ukraine and Sweden. It also confirms the international recognition of Ukrainian sociology's high standards. This was made possible, in particular, thanks to the effective cooperation of Tetiana Skrypchenko, Deputy Director of Rating Group, and Torbjörn Sjöström, CEO of Novus Group International AB & President of Gallup Nordic.

The results of the survey in Sweden are compared with data from the recent survey in Ukraine by Rating Group.

See the full research report on the website of Gallup Nordic or Novus.

Key Findings

• 75% of Swedes support Ukraine in the war against the Russian invasion.
• 72% of Swedes, like 81% of Ukrainians, are convinced that the best way to end the war is a compromise with international diplomatic support.
• Only 1% of Swedish citizens support a scenario in which Ukraine must agree to all the aggressor's demands. 61% also believe that Russia will become a greater threat to Sweden if it retains control over the occupied territories in Ukraine.
• 70% of Swedes support the creation of a common European military defense.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky enjoys exceptionally high support in Sweden (90%), while Russian president Vladimir Putin has an almost absolute negative evaluation (98%).

On February 22-24, 2025, the Rating Sociological Group conducted a public opinion survey on the issue of civilian captivity. The survey was carried out at the request of the NGO "NUN" within the framework of a grant provided by the EU Project "Pravo-Justice," which is implemented by Expertise France.

Key Findings

• 78% of respondents are either well-informed or have heard about the issue of civilian captivity.
• A vast majority (84%) are aware of or have heard about the Geneva Conventions and the prohibition of taking civilians captive.
• 16% of respondents have friends or acquaintances who have been or are currently in civilian captivity.
• The most common information encountered by those aware of civilian captivity relates to the release or exchange of captives (55%).
• The primary sources of such information include messenger channels (45%), social media (45%), television (41%), and online news media (35%).
• The majority of respondents believe that state authorities bear responsibility for addressing the issue of returning civilian hostages.
• 14% of respondents are aware of NGOs that work on the return of civilian hostages.

Awareness about the issue of civilian captivity

• 27% of respondents stated that they are well aware of the practice of the unlawful detention of civilians (non-military Ukrainians) in the temporarily occupied territories or in Russia—civilian captivity. About 51% have heard about it, while 22% said they know nothing about it.
• The most informed groups include respondents from central regions (33%), younger and middle-aged individuals (34% and 32%, respectively), and internally displaced persons (38%).
• Among those respondents who know about civilian captivity, 55% have heard information about the release or exchange of captives, 48% - about isolated, unsystematic reports on the existence of such a phenomenon without specifics, 21% - about the number of civilian captives, 17% - about the activities or initiatives of Ukrainian government bodies regarding this issue, and 14% - about the activities or initiatives of international authorities.
• Regarding the Geneva Conventions and the prohibition of taking civilians captive, 42% of Ukrainians are well aware of their existence, while another 42% have heard about them. Meanwhile, 15% of respondents are uninformed on the matter. The most knowledgeable groups include residents of central regions (46%), younger and middle-aged individuals (53% and 49%, respectively), men (48%), returned IDPs (47%), and those who are well-informed about civilian captivity (74%).
• 16% of Ukrainians have friends or acquaintances who have been or are currently in civilian captivity, while 83% do not. Such friends or acquaintances are more common among internally displaced persons (25%).

Sources of information about the civilian captivity

• Among the most common sources of information about prisoner exchanges, respondents most frequently mention messenger channels in Telegram or Viber (45%), social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and others) (45%), television (41%), and online news media (35%).
• Other sources cited include relatives and acquaintances (17%), radio (12%), and personal experience (4%). The general trend in responses remains consistent across various socio-demographic groups.
• At the same time, in western regions, respondents more often learn about prisoner exchanges through social media, while in other parts of Ukraine, Telegram or Viber channels are the primary sources. Younger respondents are more likely than other age groups to get information from messenger channels and acquaintances, whereas older respondents (51 and older) rely more on television and radio.
• Those who have relatives in captivity are more likely to learn about exchanges through online media, acquaintances, and personal experience, while those who do not have relatives in captivity most often rely on television.

Return of civilian hostages

• According to 88% of respondents, the issue of returning civilian hostages should be handled by Ukrainian state authorities. Other responses include international organisations (37%), Ukrainian charitable foundations and volunteers (27%), families, relatives of captives (21%), and local authorities (19%).
• The overall trend remains consistent across different socio-demographic groups, with respondents primarily placing responsibility on the state authorities. At the same time, residents of western and central regions are comparatively more likely to believe that international organisations, Ukrainian charitable foundations, and volunteers should also be involved in addressing the issue. Younger respondents more often believe that local authorities should take responsibility, while middle-aged respondents consider families and local authorities to play a key role.
• Those who have relatives in captivity are more likely than others to believe that international organisations should also be responsible.
• 14% of respondents are aware of NGOs working on the return of civilian hostages, while 79% are not. Awareness is comparatively higher among those who have relatives in captivity (23%) and young people (19%).
• In an open-ended question about awareness of such NGOs, respondents who knew anything about them most frequently mentioned the Red Cross (32%), Come Back Alive (21%), Ukrainian Ombudsman (7%), volunteers (5%), UN (5%), HUR (4%), Zolkin Fund (3%), and White Angels (3%). About 43 other different NGOs have been mentioned sporadically.

On March 4, 2025, Ukraine Crisis Media Center hosted a presentation of a survey concerning justice in the context of war that was conducted by the Rating Sociological Group on January 3-12 at the request of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA. The survey covers the impact of the war on Ukrainian society, citizens' attitudes towards lustration, preservation of the memory of the war and the state policy of recovery.

See the key findings of the survey below.

You can also watch the recording of the broadcast here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/TrutVNN0mSY

Lossess casued by the war

• Half of the respondents (50%) reported experiencing a deterioration in their psycho-emotional state due to the war. Additionally, 36% noted a decline in their health, 24% reported a loss of income, 21% suffered the loss of a loved one, and 20% experienced family separation.
• Other reported losses included job loss (17%), injury to a loved one (17%), estrangement from family members or close ones (15%), destruction or damage to property (16%), forced displacement or migration (14%), and loss of a business (7%).
• Meanwhile, 9% stated that they had not experienced any of the listed losses. Compared to 2023, the number of those who lost a loved one increased from 19% to 21%, while the percentage of those who lost income (from 29% to 24%) and jobs (from 22% to 17%) decreased.

Lustration

• The majority of respondents (68%) believe that lustration can serve as one of the tools for restoring trust in government institutions after the war, while 27% disagree with this view.
• According to the respondents, lustration as a mechanism for restricting access to public office for those who collaborated with the occupying authorities should primarily apply to individuals who remained in Ukrainian-controlled territory but cooperated with or supported Russia (53%), were elected as deputies or heads of illegally created bodies (51%), worked in illegal occupation administrations (50%), or served in the military, law enforcement, or judicial bodies in occupied territories (37%).
• About a quarter (23%) of respondents are well aware of the lustration process carried out in Ukraine between 2014 and 2016, while 44% have heard something about it, and 33% are unaware of it. Among those familiar with or who have heard about lustration, 58% view it positively, 26% negatively, and 9% are indifferent.
• Regarding responsibility for conducting lustration to address the consequences of the war, 43% of respondents believe this should be handled by a newly created nationwide body. Meanwhile, 19% support assigning this task to a national lustration commission under the Ministry of Justice or another ministry, 18% believe it should be managed by local governments and territorial communities, and 10% think the responsibility should lie with a national lustration commission under the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory.

Liability for ties with Russia

• A vast majority (79%) believe that individuals who maintained ties with Russia after its aggression began in 2014 should be barred from holding any positions in state authorities. Additionally, 62% support a ban on positions in the judiciary and law enforcement agencies, while 57% believe higher political and military positions should be restricted. Meanwhile, 18% think bans should apply to positions in local and national government bodies, whereas 3% believe there should be no restrictions at all.
• When asked whether Ukrainian lawyers who continued working in temporarily occupied territories should face professional restrictions, most respondents (73%) stated that each case should be assessed individually. Meanwhile, 17% believe such lawyers should be barred from practicing in Ukraine, while 8% argue that they should not face restrictions, as they provide legal assistance to Ukrainians under occupation.
• The majority of respondents (82%) believe that criminal liability should apply only to lawyers who collaborated with Russia and the occupation administrations, including those who held official positions. Meanwhile, 10% think that all lawyers who continued working in occupied territories should be held criminally responsible, while 6% believe they should not face punishment for working under occupation.
• A majority (69%) of respondents are willing to provide any known information about Ukrainian citizens' cooperation with the occupying authorities to the body responsible for lustration. Additionally, 14% are only willing to report cases where they or their loved ones were personally affected, while 15% are unwilling to provide any information.

National memory and commemoration

• Two-thirds of respondents (65%) believe that memorial sites and commemorative events should evoke gratitude and recognition of heroism, while half (50%) emphasize the importance of remembering events and honoring the fallen. Other emotions and sentiments mentioned by respondents include a sense of responsibility for the future (29%), hope that such events will not be repeated (28%), the restoration of justice (24%), grief and sorrow for the victims (21%), and an awareness of historical significance (17%).
• Two-thirds (66%) of respondents believe that, in response to Russian aggression, the primary focus of commemoration should be the heroism of the military, while 59% highlight the role of volunteers and the rescue of civilians. Other frequently mentioned aspects include fundraising efforts for the army (28%), civilian resistance, including actions in occupied territories, and efforts to restore critical infrastructure under shelling (both at 24%).
• Among the preferred ways to commemorate the Russo-Ukrainian war, respondents most often mentioned the implementation of support programs for the families of fallen soldiers (52%) and the creation of documentary and feature films (48%). Other frequently suggested initiatives include the establishment of a museum and thematic exhibitions (36%), the creation of a Memory Park (35%), the installation of a monument or sculpture (34%), scholarships for children and young people in honor of the fallen (30%), the introduction of a national remembrance lesson (26%), the creation of a Digital Memorial and archive (25%), the development of a Memory Alley (24%), and educational courses in schools and universities (21%).
• When asked about personal participation in commemorative activities, 64% of respondents expressed willingness to visit burial sites of the fallen, while 39% would attend the opening of a memorial site or monument. Other commonly mentioned events or locations included burial sites or memorials in different regions (23%), public gatherings at significant locations (20%), and museum exhibitions (17%).
• More than half of respondents (56%) believe that the design of gravestones, memorial plaques, and other commemorative objects should be chosen individually based on personal preferences and financial means, a view most strongly supported by residents of active combat zones. Meanwhile, 41% advocate for a unified design standard.
• Decisions regarding commemorative measures for victims and participants of the Russo-Ukrainian war should, according to 39% of respondents, be made by local governments, while 36% believe the responsibility should lie with the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory. Additionally, 32% think that the relatives of the fallen and affected individuals should have a say. Other institutions frequently mentioned include the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (27%), the government or specific ministries (25%), the President of Ukraine (22%), and public or charitable organizations (19%).
• Half of the respondents (52%) believe that the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory should focus primarily on collecting and researching information about the events of the war. Nearly a third (31%) consider its main role to be spreading awareness about the war internationally, while 28% emphasize the importance of preserving records and verifying cases of collaboration with the occupiers. Additionally, 24% see its role in fostering patriotism, national identity, and civic engagement, as well as countering the effects of Russian propaganda. Other suggested priorities include developing and implementing state memory policies (21%), initiating the creation of memorials, cemeteries, and monuments (19%), and organizing an archival record of wartime events (19%).

• According to a survey conducted by the Rating Group, the most positively viewed world leaders in Ukraine are E. Macron (77%), A. Duda (72%), Ursula von der Leyen (67%). More than half of respondents hold a positive view of O. Scholz and R. Erdogan (both 57%), K. Starmer (56%). Overall, attitudes toward most of these leaders have improved compared to last year’s results. For Macron and Starmer, these are the highest positive approval ratings recorded in the measurements.
• The most negatively perceived leaders are V. Orban (11%), A. Lukashenko (8%), and V. Putin (1%).
• Two-thirds of Ukrainians trust President Zelenskyy, while one-third do not. Since January, trust in him has increased from 57% to 65%. Valerii Zaluzhnyi is trusted by 76% of respondents, 16% do not trust him. Serhii Prytula is trusted by 34%, and 51% do not trust him. Petro Poroshenko is trusted by 22%, while 76% do not trust him, Dmytro Razumkov is trusted by 19%, and 41% do not trust him, Yuliia Tymoshenko is trusted by 11%, and 86% do not trust her.

• The survey results indicate that Ukrainians overwhelmingly reject (91% oppose) US-Russia negotiations on ending the war without Ukraine’s participation. They believe that normalizing relations between these countries would primarily benefit Russia while harming both Ukraine and the European Union. At the same time, a significant portion of Ukrainians (64%) support direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, and this figure showing an upward trend. The vast majority (81%) consider finding a compromise solution through negotiations involving other countries as a realistic path to ending the war.
• Moreover, 83% of respondents support a ceasefire, but only if Ukraine is provided with security guarantees.

Today, Rating Group officially became a corporate member of ESOMAR - European Society of Marketing Research Professionals, one of the most famous research associations in the world.

We thank our new partners for their trust and continue our work in accordance with the highest research standards.

Rating Group is also a member of WAPOR, ISA, and the Sociological Association of Ukraine (SAU).

On 1-2 February, Rating Sociological Group conducted a national survey entitled ‘The energy situation in Ukraine: expectations, challenges and prospects’. We learned how Ukrainians:

• View the energy supply situation in general.    
• Assess the actions of the authorities in the energy sector.    
• Feel about different energy sources.    
• Consume and save electricity.

Assessments of the energy supply situation

• 81% of Ukrainians assess the electricity supply situation as stable and note the absence of power cuts, 17% of respondents experience minimal power cuts, and 1% experience constant power cuts. Compared to the survey conducted in October 2024, the number of Ukrainians with a stable electricity supply has increased from 64% to 81%. The situation in eastern and southern Ukraine remains the least stable.    
• Most Ukrainians (62%) say that the energy supply situation is better than they expected, while a third (32%) say that it meets their expectations. 5% said that the situation has worsened.

Assessments of government actions

• Among the measures taken by the government to improve the situation in the Ukrainian energy sector, respondents are most aware of the restoration of destroyed energy facilities (48%), strengthening the protection of energy facilities (38%), and attracting funds and energy equipment from international partners (37%). Twenty-four per cent are aware of the increase in electricity imports, 18% are aware of the development of distributed generation, and 11% have not heard of any of these measures. Compared to October 2024, the proportion of people who are aware of the increase in electricity imports has grown (from 19% to 24%). Young people are better informed about measures aimed at improving the energy situation.
• 69% of respondents consider the government's actions to improve the energy situation to be effective, while 25% consider them to be ineffective.  
• 72% of respondents responded positively to President Zelensky's initiative to build, with the help of partners, up to 1 gigawatt of gas-fired power generation in 2024 and another 4 gigawatts in the coming years. 18% view this initiative negatively. A positive attitude is more common among the wealthier segments of the population. According to 57% of respondents, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine will be able to implement the initiative to develop gas-fired power generation, while 31% believe that it will not be able to do so.

Energy generation sources

• According to 54% of Ukrainians, nuclear power plants (NPPs) provide the largest share of electricity production in Ukraine, 9% believe that it is thermal power plants (TPPs), 6% - solar power plants (SPPs), 5% - hydroelectric power plants (HPPs and PSPs), 2% - wind power plants.    
• 76% of respondents support the development of nuclear energy, while 18% disagree with the prospect of developing nuclear energy.
• 80% of respondents responded positively to the initiative to complete the construction of power units at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, while 16% responded negatively to this initiative. The completion of power units is most supported by residents of the eastern and southern regions.

Electricity consumption

• 92% of respondents always pay their electricity bills, 6% pay from time to time, and 1% do not pay.    
• The vast majority (94%) of respondents try to use electricity sparingly: 72% try to do so always, and 22% do so from time to time. 6% do not try to save.

The Rating Sociological Group has launched a series of periodic national sociological surveys. They concern various aspects of the life of Ukrainians during the war (general state of affairs, vision of the future, perception of the region, factors of social unity and division, etc.).

In the first wave (November 20 – December 4, 2024), a combined survey was conducted. It consisted of two stages:

   
1. CATI (telephone) survey: nationwide sample (2,000 respondents) + additional subsamples for 9 near-frontline and border regions (400 respondents each). 5,600 respondents in total.
   
2. Focus groups with respondents.

General state of affairs, challenges, and expectations

   
• Among Ukrainians, criticism in assessments of the general state of affairs is growing: about half (49%) of respondents believe that the situation in the country is developing in the wrong direction (35% believe that it is developing in the right direction).
   
• Most Ukrainians speak of a negative changes in several contexts over the past year: in the economic (80%), political (62%) situation of the country, the financial situation of the family (60%), the cohesion of Ukrainians (55%), and the state of health (54%).
   
• Among the main threats, respondents most often name economic (price increases – 33%, economic crisis – 32%), as well as security (more severe shelling – 27%, further occupation of territories – 25%).
   
• The general emotional state of Ukrainians is primarily influenced by the experience of losing a loved one (40%), health and physical well-being (31%), financial situation (29%), security situation (28%), news and events in Ukraine and the mobilization of loved ones and relatives to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (23% each). 
   
• Despite significant difficulties, the majority of citizens remain optimistic about the future of Ukraine (71%) and continue to believe in Ukraine's ability to repel a Russian attack (69%). And in general, respondents mainly feel positive emotions about Ukraine: hope (68%) and pride (44%). This indicates a high level of patriotism and resilience of citizens.

Perception of the region and plans to move

• In their region, respondents most positively assess the comfort of living (75%), leisure (65%), affordability of school and preschool education (63%).
   
• Respondents mostly have negative perceptions of the opportunities for young people in the region (56% say there is a shortage), finding a job (51%), feeling of security (51%), and salary (48%).
   
• Despite all the challenges of the war, the absolute majority of respondents (81%) do not plan to move from their region. However, among young people aged 18-29, almost 40% expressed their intention to leave their region in the future while 14% intend to move to another country.

Factors of unity and division in the society

• The factors of unity and division of Ukrainians somewhat mirror each other. For example, the fight against corruption (50%) and economic prosperity (44%) can unite, whereas the growth of corruption (58%) and economic decline (49%) can divide.
   
• Other significant factors of disunity may be political elections (29%) and different experiences during the war (28%).
   
• In contrast, respondents consider recovery (37%) as another important factor uniting Ukrainians.

Civic participation

• The absolute majority of respondents (76%) express readiness to participate in changes in the country.
   
• Respondents are most interested in information about the fight against corruption (52%) and the course of the war (34%).
   
• A significant share (79%) state that they are interested in the situation in the occupied territories (this is especially common among residents of frontline and border regions). On the other hand, half of the respondents (52%) believe that the media do not provide enough information about living conditions in the occupied territories.

The End of Year Survey (EoY) is an annual global survey by Gallup International which studies opinions of people in different countries. It includes the topics of the future, happiness, and economic expectations. In 2024, 35 882 respondents were surveyed in 35 countries.

This is the second time the Rating Group conducted the EoY survey in Ukraine. In December 2024, we asked 1000 Ukrainians about their views on the international role of the US.

Will the US be a superpower in 2030?

   
• The majority of Ukrainians (66%) believe that the US will be a superpower as of 2030. Slightly less than a quarter of respondents disagree. 
   
• Young people aged 18-24 (72%) are more confident in the US’s future as a superpower. People with high income also lean to this point of view (70%).
   
• Ukrainians are more confident that the US will be a superpower than the respondents in the 35 countries on average. At the same time, the opinions of Ukrainians align with those of the American respondents. 

The US’s foreign influence

   
• 51% of Ukrainians have a positive opinion on American foreign policy concerning Ukraine whereas 26% gave a negative response. Another 12% believe it has no effect and 11% could not answer.
   
• Ukrainians are more likely to speak of the positive effects of American foreign policy than the respondents from the 35 countries on average. In fact, Ukraine ranks in the top-5 countries with the most positive opinion on the US’s influence (after Kosovo, India, the Philippines, and Columbia). 
   
• The most criticism towards the US’s foreign influence on their country comes from people in Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran. Pakistan, Serbia, and Kazakhstan are also countries where the majority are skeptics or critics of the US’s foreign policy.