Press releases

How often do teenagers consult AI about their emotions and feelings, and who does so more often? This is the topic of the second publication on the study ‘Changes in Children's Mental Health and Well-being.’

In October 2025, Rating Group/Rating Lab surveyed more than 1,500 teenagers aged 10-18 and their parents using the unique Family 360° family research technology. In each publication, we discuss the mental health of teenagers and various aspects of their lives: gadgets and AI, emotional recognition by parents, dreams, household chores and stress, upbringing and punishment in the family, and bullying.

How common is this phenomenon?

In general, every tenth teenager aged 10-18 often asks artificial intelligence for advice about their emotional state and mood. Most often, girls aged 14-18 (16%) consult AI.

In fact, one in six teenage girls aged 14-18 asks AI for advice about their emotional state and mood.

Among younger girls aged 10-13, this proportion is lower – 9%. Among boys, 5% of younger teenagers aged 10-13 and 7% of teenagers aged 14-18 often turn to AI for such advice.

At the same time, two-thirds of teenagers aged 10-18 never turn to AI for advice about their psychological state.

So teenagers see AI as a ‘psychologist’...?

65% of teenagers who often ask AI for advice about their emotional state have significant levels of stress (elevated or high). This is twice as often as their peers who rarely ask AI for such advice.

Some children do seek help from AI when experiencing certain emotions. Of course, consulting with artificial intelligence cannot replace a psychologist or psychotherapist. But in fact, some children do this (at least partially), and this is worth paying attention to.

…compensate for a lack of understanding from parents?

Teenagers who often turn to AI for advice about their emotional state have a weaker emotional connection with their parents.

Among those who frequently consult AI, only 23% have a very strong connection with their parents, while among those who rarely turn to AI, 42% have a strong connection with their parents. Thus, children seek support and guidance from AI that they may not be receiving from their loved ones.

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About Family 360° technology

It is not worth making conclusions about teenagers without asking their opinion. That is why the Rating Group team launched Family 360° technology for family surveys, which focuses on the child who takes the survey, as well as 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. We have previously used this approach successfully with our partners at UNICEF, KSE, and Ty Yak? when researching mine awareness, mental health, education, and career guidance.

About the study

We first researched the topic of mental health in the parent-child relationship in October 2024. This year, we decided to continue, expanding the scope of the topic and using longitudinal research techniques to better understand the dynamics. In October 2025, this survey covered more than 1,500 children/adolescents aged 10-18 and their parents.

The authors of this study are: Svitlana Royz, child and family psychologist, mother of two children; Marianna Tkalych, CEO of Rating Lab, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, mother of Masha (17 years old); Tetiana Skrypchenko, Deputy Director of Rating Group, mother of Solomiya (8 months old).

About Family 360° technology

It is not worth making conclusions about teenagers without asking their opinion.

That is why the Rating Group team launched Family 360° technology for family surveys, which focuses on the child who takes the survey, as well as 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. We have previously used this approach successfully with our partners at UNICEF, KSE, and Ty Yak? when researching mine awareness, mental health, education, and career guidance.

About the study

We first researched the topic of mental health in the parent-child context in October 2024. This year, we decided to continue, expanding the scope of the topic and using longitudinal research techniques to better understand the dynamics. In October 2025, this survey covered more than 1,500 children/adolescents aged 10-18 and their parents.

The authors of this research idea are: Svitlana Roiz, child and family psychologist, mother of two children; Marianna Tkalich, CEO of the Rating Lab research laboratory, Doctor of Psychology, mother of Masha (17 years old); Tetiana Skrypchenko, Deputy Director of the Rating Group, mother of Solomiya (8 months old).

Below are the first insights from the research series ‘Changes in Children's Mental Health and Well-being.’

Ukrainian children are experiencing increasing levels of stress

• In autumn 2024, Rating Group and UNICEF found that 27% of Ukrainian children had significant (high or elevated) levels of stress. By October 2025, this figure had risen to 37%.
• Stress increased particularly among girls aged 10-13. We surveyed more than 900 children from a previous study (longitudinal study) and found that stress had increased in 40% of girls in this age group over the course of a year.
• The increase in stress among adolescents is accompanied by certain (often negative) feelings. One in ten children/adolescents who have experienced increased stress have recently felt disappointment as their main emotion.
• On the other hand, children who have experienced decreased stress since 2024 are more likely to feel joy, calmness and interest. They experience less anxiety, sadness and disappointment.

How is this related to parental stress?

We found that in one in five cases, the main feeling of children and parents in recent times coincides. Most often, this feeling is anxiety.

Some children pick up anxiety from their parents, and the stress intensifies.

Anxiety is the most common feeling among children with high and elevated stress levels.

What helps children cope with stress?

So, how can you help your child cope with stress? The results of the Family 360° survey allow us to suggest several useful practices.

Build trusting relationships and communicate more.

About 77% of children who communicate relatively more often with their parents and loved ones about their feelings and experiences have good stress resistance (among those who communicate rarely, this figure is slightly more than half). The stress level in children who communicate frequently with their parents is twice as low.

Support your child's hobbies or help them find a favourite activity.

Children who often engage in their favourite activities are more likely to have low or moderate stress levels (68%). In contrast, less than half of their peers who rarely engage in hobbies have low or moderate stress levels.

Shared hobbies between children and parents are particularly beneficial

As our previous study showed, 57% of children who share a hobby with their parents are well adapted to stress. In other words, they have both high resilience and low stress levels. This has an even stronger effect on parents: 64% of parents who share a hobby with their children are adapted to stress.

Encourage your child to participate in sports and physical activities.

Most children who engage in physical activity frequently have high stress resilience (almost 60%). Among those who do not engage in sports or do so rarely, this figure is 38%.

Sports and physical activity are reliable factors in reducing stress in children.

On the other hand, it is worse when the child's only or main hobby is spending time on gadgets and video games. According to a previous study, the lowest levels of resilience (compared to peers who have other hobbies) are found in children whose hobbies are playing games on their phones or computers. Also, ‘sitting’ on the phone is not a very useful response to a stressful event: children who respond to a trigger by immersing themselves in their phone or computer also have low resilience.

On 27–31 July 2025, Rating Group conducted a nationwide survey commissioned by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) on public sentiment in Ukrainian society during wartime. The study focused on analysing citizens’ political orientations, levels of trust in state and public institutions and key leaders, as well as the population’s ideological attitudes.

Particular attention was paid to perceptions of the state of democracy during the war, expectations for political renewal, the role of military personnel and veterans in politics, protest sentiment, attitudes toward elections, and Ukrainians’ media consumption.

The data is current as of July 2025.

Rating Group found out how often Ukrainians consume alcoholic beverages and how this is connected to their relationships with a partner.

This is the second part of a survey conducted at the request of the Institute of Psychology and Psychotherapy. The first part — about Ukrainians’ relationships with their partners — can be viewed at the link.

Alcohol consumption

• 44% of respondents did not consume alcohol at all during the past month, 24% did so once a month, 21% — several times a month, 9% — several times a week, and 2% — daily or almost daily.
• Alcohol consumption is more common among younger (18–35 years) and middle-aged (36–50 years) respondents, men, and those who have a partner.
• Less affluent respondents reported drinking alcohol less frequently.
  

Drinking together with a partner

• Respondents more often consume alcohol separately from their partners.
• During the past month, 61% did not drink alcohol together with their partner at all, 19% did so once a month, 15% — several times a month, and 4% — several times a week.
• Joint alcohol consumption is less common among older respondents (51+) and those who report having poor relationships with their partners.

Impact on relationships with a partner

• An overwhelming majority (81%) of respondents who have a partner said that alcohol consumption does not affect their relationship.13% believe it worsens the relationship, while 2% think it improves it.
• Concerns about alcohol having a negative impact on relationships are more frequently expressed by young people aged 18–35, those who have poor relationships with their partners, and those who do not drink alcohol together.

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Rating Group is one of the largest research institutions in Ukraine, operating on the market since 2008.The company is registered in Ukraine and has extensive experience conducting sociological surveys both in Ukraine and abroad. The group includes the following divisions: Rating Sociological Group, Rating Lab (Research Laboratory), Rating Online Platform, and Rating Call Center.

At the end of July 2025, Rating Group conducted a survey among Ukrainians about their relationships with their partners. How many Ukrainians have a partner, and how do they assess their relationships?

The study was commissioned by the Institute of Psychology and Psychotherapy.

Relationship status and evaluation

• 70% of surveyed Ukrainians have a partner, while 30% do not.
• Among those who have a partner, two-thirds describe their relationship as very good, and another 30% — as rather good.
• Young people are more likely than other age groups to rate their relationships as very good (71%). The views of men and women on the state of their relationships do not differ significantly.

Changes in relationships

• According to one-third of respondents, their relationships have improved recently.60% said their relationships have not changed, while 6% reported they have worsened.
• Improvements were more often noted by young people (45%) and by those who describe their relationships as very good (43%).

Spending time together

• About one-third of respondents said that during the past month they spent time together with their partner — engaging in hobbies, going for walks, reading, or watching movies (excluding household chores) — every day or almost every day.
• A quarter did so several times a week, 16% — several times a month, 8% — once a month, and 15% — not at all.
• Older respondents (51 and older) were more likely to report spending time together almost daily (46%), as well as those who describe their relationships as very good (43%).

How do Ukrainians perceive the challenges that veterans face when returning to civilian life? What forms of support do they consider most important?

The sociological company Rating Group and the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) in Ukraine explored this as part of the nationwide survey “Trust, Reforms, and EU Integration: What Ukrainians Think in 2025.”

Veterans’ challenges

• The biggest challenges that veterans face when returning to civilian life, according to respondents, are most often related to health issues: post-traumatic stress and stress disorders (63%), disability (54%), and health problems in general (51%). In addition, 40% mention alcoholism and drug addiction.
• Lack of employment is noted by 43%.
• While only 12% point to the lack of access to education and training.

Veterans’ support

• The majority of Ukrainians (62%) consider rehabilitation to be the most important form of support.
• This is followed by employment opportunities (47%) and access to medical care (43%).
• Another 27% highlighted support from veterans’ communities, while 6% mentioned education and training.

Rating Group is one of the largest research institutions in Ukraine, operating on the market since 2008. The company is registered in Ukraine and has extensive experience in conducting sociological surveys both in Ukraine and abroad. The Group includes: Rating Group Ukraine, the research laboratory Rating Lab, the platform Rating Online, and Rating Call Center.

The European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine and the Rating Group present the results of the annual nationwide Public Opinion Survey, offering a comprehensive picture of how Ukrainians perceive reforms, institutions, threats, challenges, and the country’s path toward EU membership.

Since 2015, EUAM Ukraine has commissioned this survey to ensure its support to Ukrainian partners is rooted in credible, evidence-based data. The 2025 results highlight encouraging trends in public trust of civilian security sector institutions, alongside clear challenges in areas crucial for reforms and European integration.

Trust in institutions

• Ukrainians continue to demonstrate strong confidence in their international partners. The European Union (63%), the International Monetary Fund (58%), NATO (54%), and the Council of Europe (53%) enjoy the highest levels of trust, while the United Nations (40%) and the OSCE (37%) are also seen as essential supporters of Ukraine.
• Among Ukrainian state security and law enforcement institutions, the National Guard of Ukraine (84%) and the Security Service of Ukraine (78%) are the two that enjoy the highest levels of trust. The State Border Guard Service (62%) and the National Police (48%) also record stable confidence levels.
• Younger Ukrainians (18–29) display particularly high confidence in security agencies, a reflection of their direct experience of the war and the crucial role these institutions play in protecting lives and communities. This trust also underlines that reforms are recognised by the younger generation, offering optimism that Ukraine’s future leaders see value in building resilient, EU-aligned public institutions even under conditions of war.

Attitudes towards EU integration and reforms

• A strong majority (68%) of Ukrainians believe that their country will succeed in implementing the necessary reforms for EU accession. At the same time, only 8% expect Ukraine to join the EU within one to two years. Most often, Ukrainians expect the accession to take place within five years (25%) or five to ten years (31%).
• The reforms viewed most positively by citizens are digital transformation (70% satisfied) and progress on gender equality (60%).
• The survey reveals continued dissatisfaction with anti-corruption efforts, with 86% of respondents expressing disapproval, making it the most pressing challenge to Ukraine’s reform agenda.

Evaluation of EU's support of Ukraine

• When asked about the most relevant forms of EU assistance, Ukrainians highlighted the fight against corruption (62%), support in investigating war crimes (44%), and assistance to liberated territories from the russian occupation (40%).
• Strategic communication was rated as the most effective area of EU support (55%), reflecting citizens’ demand for accurate and transparent information about the reform process.
• Nearly half of the respondents (49%) also consider EU accession consultations effective.

Challenges and hybrid threats

• The survey highlights public concern about hybrid threats from Russia, with 81% believing such threats are increasing.
• Online recruitment by russian special services (42%), fake news (32%), and cyberattacks (23%) are cited as the most concerning.
• Two-thirds of Ukrainians assess the country’s preparedness to counter hybrid warfare as moderate

Information sources and disinformation

• 51% of Ukrainians continue to rely on Telegram as their main source of information, with YouTube (25%) and personal networks (22%) also playing significant roles.
• At the same time, social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are viewed as the primary sources of disinformation (58%), followed by messenger channels (45%).
• Independent journalists and the Centre for Countering Disinformation (CCD) remain the most trusted actors in debunking fake news.

Veterans' reintegration

• Respondents identified post-traumatic stress and stress-related disorders (63%), disability (54%), and health problems (51%) as the main challenges facing veterans returning to civilian life.
• The majority (62%) see rehabilitation as the most important form of support.
• It is followed by employment opportunities (47%) and access to healthcare (43%).

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Rating Group is one of Ukraine's largest research institutions, operating since 2008. The company is registered in Ukraine and has extensive experience in conducting sociological surveys in Ukraine and abroad. The group includes: Sociological Group Rating, Rating Lab research laboratory, Rating Online platform, and Rating Call Center.

"Проблеми соціальної згуртованості в Україні" - нове наукове дослідження Соціологічної групи Рейтинг (Rating Group) у співпраці з Наталією Черниш, доктором соціологічних наук, професором кафедри соціології Львівського національного університету ім. Івана Франка.

‍У фокусі дослідження - самоідентифікація українців, довіра одне до одного, рівень соціальної стійкості, готовність допомагати іншим й інші індикатори соціальної згуртованості.

Самоідентифікація

• Абсолютна більшість українців (94%) відчувають себе громадянами України.
• За час повномасштабної війни самоідентифікація українців ще більше змістилася у бік країни загалом: люди асоціюють себе скоріше з Україною загалом, ніж зі своїм регіоном (77%).
• Більше половини (52%) вважають себе європейцями та лише 8% вважають себе радянською людиною.

Цінності

Коли респондентів попросили обрати до трьох найважливіших цінностей з переліку, найчастіше позначали перемогу України (62%), родину та близьких (53%), власне здоров’я (34%), незалежність української держави (26%), відновлення України (20%). Це екзистенційні цінності, цінності виживання. Ці результати співзвучні з нещодавнім дослідженням Rating Group про цінності українців.

Довіра в суспільстві

• Загальний Індекс довіри в суспільстві має середній рівень (3,0). Шкала: від 1 (мінімум довіри) до 5 (максимум).
• Найвища довіра - до близького кола (3.9), тобто рідних, друзів, мешканців міста/села. Менше довіряють суспільному колу (2.9), тобто інституціям, організаціям, владі, мешканцям України тощо, а також колу "інших людей" (2.4), тобто незнайомим людям у випадкових ситуаціях, людям інших політичних поглядів або національності.
• ‍Понад третина респондентів довіряє мешканцям України (36%, ще 42% вагаються), дещо менше - мешканцям міста/села (30%, ще 42% вагаються).
• Серед інституцій українці висловлюють найвищу довіру до волонтерських організацій (63%). Менше довіряють громадським організаціям (30%, ще 37% вагаються), місцевій (25%, ще 27% вагаються) і центральній (24%, ще 26% вагаються) владі.

Соціальний капітал і громадське життя

• В умовах повномасштабної війни в українському суспільстві виріс соціальний капітал: 86% українців надавали допомогу людям, які опинились у складній ситуації під час війни, зокрема 27% переважно допомагали людям за межами родинного кола.
• Половина респондентів налагодила і зберегла зв’язки, що виникли через об’єднання з іншими людьми для взаємопідтримки. У деяких випадках ці взаємозв’язки ставали інституціоналізованими: близько 10% респондентів є членами громадської організації, а 43% мають таких людей серед найближчого оточення (родичі, друзі).
• Серед типів громадської активності українці надають перевагу допомозі іншим. Респонденти активно допомагають ЗСУ – 70% постійно або час від часу допомагають фінансово, 44% - нефінансово (сітки, свічки, ремонт авто тощо). Також відносно поширеною є допомога біженцям, переселенцям, людям з інвалідністю (49%).
• Інші види активності не є такими поширеними: 23% беруть участь у громадських слуханнях та підписанні петицій, 20% - вирішенні спільних проблем в житті територіальної громади, 13% - у громадських акціях і мітингах.
• Більш активними є мешканці Заходу і Центру, а також більш забезпечені опитані.

Соціальна стійкість

• Українське суспільство зберігає стійкість. Індекс стійкості складає 3.6 (вище середнього рівня) за шкалою від 1 (мінімум) до 5 (максимум).
• Абсолютна більшість оптимістично оцінює як майбутнє України (76%), так і власне (72%).
• Більше 70% вважають, що можуть самостійно впоратися з проблемами, які в них виникають.
• Окрім того, високим є відчуття єдності з іншими українцями, його висловлюють майже дві третини респондентів. З місцевою громадою себе ідентифікують 53%.
• Дещо нижчими є оцінка рівня солідарності та взаємодопомоги (48%), справедливості (45%) у суспільстві та впевненість в тому, що держава у кризовій ситуації ухвалить правильне рішення (44%).

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Rating Group — одна з найбільших дослідницьких інституцій України, яка на ринку з 2008 року. Компанія  зареєстрована в Україні та має значний досвід проведення соціологічних опитувань в Україні та за кордоном. До групи входять: Соціологічна група Рейтинг, дослідницька лабораторія Rating Lab, платформа Rating Online та Rating Call Center.

On April 1-23, 2025, the Rating Group conducted a study of media consumption of Ukrainians commissioned by the NGO "Lviv Media Forum" and International Media Support. The survey topics are information behavior, media consumption, trust in the media, the fight against disinformation and vulnerability to it.

Sources of information

• Telegram is the main means of obtaining information about current events for Ukrainians. Telegram channels are read constantly or often (4-5 days a week) by more than half of respondents (52%).
• In second place is YouTube (32% watch constantly or often), in third place is Facebook (28%).
• The "United News" telethon and Viber chats are watched constantly or often by 25%.
• Regular reading of printed media is a rare practice: 84% never use newspapers and magazines to obtain information.
• The majority of Ukrainians also never receive information from the radio (75%), regional media (69%), regional online media (67%), international online media (66%).

Trust in the media

• Ukrainians have little trust in the media in general. But Telegram channels (29%) and Youtube channels (24%) are relatively more trusted.
• International and Ukrainian online media are rather trusted or trusted by 16%.
• Ukrainians distrust the United telethon the most (39% do not trust or rather do not trust, 24% are hesitant, 19% find it difficult to answer).

How Ukrainians fight disinformation

• Almost 40% of respondents never check the reliability of information, 18% always do it.
• Young people (18-29 years old), respondents with higher education, as well as military personnel and veterans check the reliability more often.
• 35% believe that it is easy or rather easy for them to distinguish true information from false information in the media, 28% — that it is difficult or rather difficult for them to do so.
• The most common practices for checking reliability are using one's own intuition and experience (34%) and comparing with several authoritative sources (25%).

Vulnerability to disinformation

59% of Ukrainians are vulnerable to disinformation, as shown by the results of the information test (see methodology). How they differ:

• They are significantly less likely to support Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO, as well as the actions of the current government.
• They are less likely to watch socio-political news and trust the media less.
• They rate their own ability to distinguish true information from false information as highly as invulnerable citizens.
• When checking information, they rely somewhat more on their own experience and intuition and less likely to compare information from different sources.
• Relatively more often these are Russian-speaking or bilingual respondents, residents of frontline territories, as well as representatives of less well-off and less educated categories.

A study by the Rating Group on August 21-23, 2025 shows that Ukrainians want peace and are mostly ready to talk about certain concessions, but only on condition of reliable security guarantees from partners.

Vision of the end of the war

• 59% of respondents support stopping the fighting on the battlefield and the searching for a compromise, 20% support fighting until the return of Donbas and Crimea, 13% - until the demarcation line/borders as of February 23, 2022 are restored.
• 82% consider negotiations to be a realistic way to end the war (62% are in favor of finding a compromise with the involvement of other countries, 20% - in direct negotiations with the russian federation).
• 75% believe that Ukraine should agree to a ceasefire only on condition of international security guarantees.
• Among the key security guarantees, Ukrainians name: funding for the army and weapons supplies from partners (52%), an obligation of allies to enter the war in the event of a second attack (48%), and international patrolling of air and sea space (44%).
• When asked “What is most important now?”, 58% chose receiving guarantees of funding for the Ukrainian army from Western partners in the future and the supply of weapons in sufficient quantities, while 31% chose the return of territories.
• Most often, respondents believe that we are fighting with russia for the future of our children (60%) and freedom (44%).

Trust in politicians

The level of trust in Valery Zaluzhny is 74%, Volodymyr Zelensky is trusted by 68%, and Kyrylo Budanov has 59% trust rate.

Electoral attitudes

• If presidential elections were to take place, Volodymyr Zelensky (35% of all respondents) and Valery Zaluzhny (25%) would receive the most support.
• In case of the parliamentary elections, the hypothetical Zaluzhny Party would lead (24%) and the hypothetical Zelenskyy Bloc would come in second place (20%). They would be followed by the European Solidarity (7%), and two hypothetical parties - the Budanov Party (6%) and the Azov Party (6%).

The goals of Ukrainians

Ukrainians want peace, but not at the expense of freedom.

• Right now, the most important things for us are basic values, values of survival: family safety (73%), living in peace (62%), freedom (56%) and national security (55%).
• It is also important for Ukrainians to live in comfort (25%), have inner harmony (22%) and self-respect (16%).
• Common goals unite Ukrainians at home and in Europe. However, Ukrainians who have been forced to leave the country place more emphasis on comfort and less on national security.

How do Ukrainians' goals differ?

• Older people often emphasise the importance of national security, while young people talk more about a comfortable life, love and happiness.
• Those who want to stay in Ukraine often talk about the importance of living in peace, national security and wisdom, while those who want to move abroad talk about a comfortable life and happiness.
• For Ukrainians who support Ukraine's accession to the EU, family security, national security and freedom are more important. For those who oppose accession, true friendship, salvation of the soul and wisdom are more important.
• Ukrainians who do not regret the collapse of the USSR more often mention national security and freedom. Those who regret it value wisdom, happiness and equality more.

What will help achieve the main goals?

Responsibility and independence are two strong traits that are key to all five main goals. But there are other important tools for achieving them.

• According to Ukrainians, freedom requires independence, responsibility, courage, honesty and intelligence.
• Family security can be achieved through responsibility and a willingness to help.
• If we want to live in peace, we need responsibility and independence.
• National security can be achieved through responsibility, independence, courage, and a willingness to help.
• At the same time, a comfortable life requires skills and intelligence.

How to achieve other goals?

• To achieve happiness, you need love, independence and cheerfulness. And for inner harmony – intelligence, honesty and love.
• Love that stands the test of time is achieved through love, honesty and responsibility. And friendship – through honesty and willingness to help.
• Salvation of the soul can be achieved through love and forgiveness.
• Self-respect, like equality, is built on honesty, independence, and responsibility.
• A bright, fulfilling life requires cheerfulness, independence, and broad-mindedness.
• A sense of achievement is attained through intellect and ability, and  social recognition through responsibility.

The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research (CISR) published the results of the national survey of Ukraine, which covered key socio-political topics. The data was collected by the Rating Group team on July 22-27, 2025.

Key findings

• The majority of Ukrainians support joining the European Union (75%) and NATO (70%).
• Ukrainians believe, the most aid in context of resistance to Russia was provided by the US (59%), Germany (48%), and the UK (38%).
• The Armed Forces of Ukraine have the highest approval level (94%) amongst the state institutions. Most Ukrainians also approve the activites of President Zelensky (65%), the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi (55%), and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha (52%).

“Ukrainians overwhelmingly desire a Western-oriented future. Ukrainians view themselves as a European people and firmly believe their future lies in Europe."
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“Ukrainians are incredibly thankful for the assistance provided by the United States and its allies and partners since the outset of the war.”

- Stephen Nix, Senior Director for Europe and Eurasia at IRI, as cited by IRI website

Researchers from the Rating Group conducted a national survey ahead of Independence Day 2025! What do Ukrainians associate with independence and unity? And what, on the contrary, divides us?

The survey was conducted using a special methodology on the Rating Online platform. This allows us to compare the responses of Ukrainians at home with the opinions of Ukrainians who have moved to Europe since 2022.

What unites and divides Ukrainians

• The victories of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are a key factor in unity today (55%). Ukrainians rally around their defenders and the preservation of the state.
• In second place is mutual assistance (more than a third of respondents).
• The reconstruction of the country also has significant potential for unity. It was identified by about a third of Ukrainians abroad and at home.
• Mutual accusations (57%), political conflicts (52%), and the economic crisis (37%) are most likely to divide society.
• Ukrainians in Europe place relatively more emphasis on mutual accusations (68%) and language issues (34%) as factors of division.

Events and symbols of independence

• Along with the 1991 declaration (51%), Ukrainians mention the resistance of 2022 (51%), the events of the Anti-Terrorist Operation/Joint Forces Operation (42%), and the Revolution of Dignity (47%) as the most important events in the formation of the modern nation. This is a common thread: from the proclamation to the establishment of independence.
• Ukrainians in Europe are relatively more likely to mention obtaining EU candidate status as a significant event (22% compared to 15% in Ukraine).
• Independence Day is most often associated with the slogan “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!” both at home and among Ukrainians abroad. The ideas of freedom, resilience, unity, and dignity are also frequently mentioned.

EU and NATO membership

• The majority of Ukrainians support EU (75%) and NATO (71%) membership.
• Among Ukrainians who have been forced to leave the country since 2022 and are now in Europe, this support is even stronger (83% and 78%).

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Rating Group is one of Ukraine's largest research institutions, operating since 2008. The company is registered in Ukraine and has extensive experience in conducting sociological surveys in Ukraine and abroad. The group includes: Sociological Group Rating, Rating Lab research laboratory, Rating Online platform, and Rating Call Center.

Mind frames: Ukrainians' perceptions of mental health and psychological support through the lens of resilience

Rating Group and UNICEF Ukraine have published the results of a joint large-scale study on the mental health of Ukrainians. ‘Mind frames’ is a unique project within the framework of the All-Ukrainian mental health programme ‘How are you?’ (an initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska).

Rating Lab carried out the research part — they developed a special methodology, surveyed about 12,000 Ukrainians and found out the following:

• how psychologically resilient Ukrainians are;
• what helps them adapt to stress;
• how Ukrainians feel about psychological support.

The study focused on five target audiences: parents of children aged 0-9; children aged 10-17 and their parents; young people aged 18-25 and other adults aged 25+. A special methodology and survey method allows for a direct comparison of the responses of parents and their children.

Stress and its triggers

• Almost half of Ukrainians (47%) have high or elevated stress levels. At the same time, 73% of Ukrainians are generally resilient to stress. This helps them adapt to constantly stressful living conditions.
• The main triggers of stress in adults aged 18+ are financial difficulties, sirens and loud noises, news and arguments with loved ones (29%). Young people aged 18-25 also often mention feelings of being ignored, ridiculed and bullied.
• For children aged 10-17, the main triggers are exams, tests and quizzes, arguments with parents/loved ones, being ignored and avoided (28%), ridicule and bullying (28%), sirens and loud/sharp noises.

Adaptability to stress

Adaptability is an experimental indicator of the interaction between stress and resilience. It shows how effectively a person responds to stressful conditions and situations.

• Less than half of Ukrainians (45%) are adapted to stress, i.e. they have both low stress and high resilience.
• Another 35% are partially adapted, and 20% are not adapted.

Parents, children, family

• 52% of those who have a partner, children and live together (i.e. their own family) are adapted, among them are the fewest maladapted (18%). Among those who do not have children and a partner, on the contrary, only 39% are adapted and 23% are maladapted.
• Parents' perceptions of their children's emotions differ significantly from the children's self-reflection: children experience joy much more often than their parents say.
• Communication within the family is very important. The more often children aged 10-17 communicate with their parents, the more adapted they are to stress. Parents help their children a lot when, during a stressful event, they talk to them about their feelings, share their experiences, explain what is happening, and hug them.
• Having a shared hobby helps both children and parents adapt. 57% of children have a shared hobby with their parents. This has an even stronger effect on parents: 64% of parents who share a hobby with their children are adaptable to stress.

What hobbies help you be more resilient?

• Having a hobby is an important factor in adapting to stress. They allow you to ‘reboot’ and develop resilience mechanisms in response to the challenges of life in times of war.
• In all age groups, those who do not have a hobby are less adapted to stress.
• The most resourceful activities are those that involve physical activity.
• The least resourceful hobbies are those related to devices and gadgets (computers, phones). It is in these activities that we often see the lowest resilience.

Attitude towards psychological assistance

• More than half of Ukrainians have a positive attitude towards psychological assistance (57%), while the remaining 47% are critical.
• The most positive attitude is among women aged 18-29.

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The study was conducted in collaboration with the Oleksandr Yaremenko Ukrainian Institute for Social Research and the Institute for Behavioural Research at American University Kyiv.

As part of a global study by Gallup International, Rating Group asked Ukrainians: "Suppose you could have only one child. Would you prefer that it be a boy or a girl or is gender irrelevant?"

Key findings:

• For the absolute majority of Ukrainians (70%), the gender of the child is irrelevant. This follows the global trend - an average of 64% of respondents in the world have the same opinion.
• 14% of Ukrainians would like the child to be a girl, 13% would like a boy.
• India, the Philippines, Ecuador are the countries where boys are the most preferred.
• South Korea, Japan, Spain lean towards girls.

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.

On July 20–22, 2025, Rating Group conducted a survey on national identity, perceptions of the state, and resilience of Ukrainians.

Self-identification

• The absolute majority of Ukrainians (94%) feel like citizens of Ukraine.
• During the full-scale war, the self-identification of Ukrainians shifted even more towards the country as a whole: people associate themselves more with Ukraine as a whole than with their region (77%).
• More than half (52%) consider themselves Europeans and only 8% consider themselves Soviet.

Independence and the future of Ukraine

• 95% of Ukrainians would vote “for” independence if such a choice was to be made today. In 2012, only 62% would vote this way.
• Victory in the war remains a key condition for maintaining independence (57%). This is followed by the fight against corruption (35%) and the unity of society (30%).
• Skepticism about restoring friendly relations with the Russians is increasing: 61% consider this impossible (versus 42% at the beginning of the full-scale invasion).

In September 2024, Rating Group asked Ukrainians about European integration and related issues: post-war reconstruction, environment, and energy. The data was collected for a study by DiXi Group and the Resource and Analytical Center "Society and Environment".

What our partners learned from the data collected by Rating Group:

• There is a significant demand among Ukrainians for information about the EU accession, especially about the impact of reforms on citizens and the potential benefits.
• Respondents consider safety, availability of shelters (58%), as well as energy efficiency and environmental friendliness (55%) to be the most important principles for rebuilding cities and housing.
• Despite the war, Ukrainians note the importance of environmental protection (96%). Restoring nature (forests, reserves) is an extremely important direction of post-war reconstruction (98%).
• Most Ukrainians also believe that they can personally play a role in protecting the environment (75%). Ukrainians are also willing to participate in specific environmental initiatives: planting plants, helping animals, spreading information about environmental problems, and cleaning up in green areas.
• Less than 6% of Ukrainians participate in state energy efficiency programs. This indicates that the coverage of such programs probably needs to be expanded.

See the full study report in the attached file and on the DiXi Group website.

The study was conducted with the financial support of the European Union within the framework of the project “Integrating Sustainable Development in Ukraine in Accordance with the European Green Deal” and the Center for Liberal Modernity (Zentrum Liberale Moderne) within the framework of the project “Ukraine in Europe – German-Ukrainian Parliamentary Dialogue, Strengthening Competence on Ukraine in Germany and Promoting Ukraine’s European Integration”. The project was implemented by a consortium of public organizations: “DIXI GROUP” (coordinator), Resource and Analytical Center “Society and Environment”, Association “Energy Efficient Cities of Ukraine”, “Ukrainian Leadership Academy”, “Women's Energy Club of Ukraine”, “DZYGA”, “PLATO”.

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The Civil Network OPORA has presented the results of a study on the social unity of Ukrainians during wartime. To conduct the research, Rating Group surveyed over 2,000 respondents in Ukraine and approximately 400 Ukrainians abroad in April 2025.

What OPORA learned from Rating Group's data:

• The vast majority of Ukrainians (84% inside the country and 78% abroad) are proud to be citizens of Ukraine.
• Around 87% of respondents in Ukraine and 76% abroad feel emotionally attached to Ukraine.
• 75% of Ukrainians within the country and 71% abroad believe that people in Ukraine have a lot in common.
• 81% of respondents in Ukraine and 77% outside of it feel trusted by those around them.
• On the other hand, only 21% in Ukraine and 18% abroad say they trust most people.

The full research report is available in the attached file and on the Civil Network OPORA’s website.

Data from Rating Group forms the basis of a new UNICEF study on parenthood! In May 2025, we surveyed Ukrainians who are planning to have children, pregnant women, and parents of children aged 0–6. The survey was conducted in collaboration with Advanter Group and with the support of the Center for Social Change and Behavioral Economics.

According to our partners at UNICEF, the survey results revealed the following:

• 21% of respondents plan to have a child in the near future, while another 26% are postponing this decision until the end of the war.
• 89% of Ukrainian parents understand the importance of emotional connection with their child for their psychological well-being.
• At the same time, 67% of parents do not have access to basic resources to support them in raising their children. Only 20% have attended a specialized parenting course at least once.
• 86% of respondents believe it is necessary to launch a national program to support parenthood.

See also the original press release on the UNICEF website

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.