Most Ukrainians continue to overwhelmingly approve of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s performance, although this support is no longer as high as it was at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukrainians also continue to believe in victory in the war, and many believe that the pace of mobilization in Ukraine is slow.
This is evidenced by the results of a sociological study by the Rating group, which it conducted at the request of the Center for Analysis and Sociological Research of the International Republican Institute.
Ukrainians were also asked how they see the future of Ukraine, how far in advance they plan their lives, and when they celebrate Christmas.
How do people feel about Zelensky's policies?
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According to the poll, the president's performance in office continues to be supported by the majority of Ukrainians - over 60%. Of these, slightly less than a quarter (22%) approve of it completely and twice as many (41%) are inclined to give it a favorable assessment.
However, this support, which reached 90% at the beginning of the great war with Russia, is gradually falling. In April 2022, there were 94% of such respondents, and in February 2023, it was 91%.
Those who fully or partially disapprove of Zelensky's policies as of February 2024 were a third (33%), while at the beginning of the invasion there were only 5%.
At the same time, Ukrainians' attitude towards other government bodies is even worse.
For example, as of February, only 19% approve of the activities of the Verkhovna Rada, 35% of the government led by Denys Shmyhal, and 47% of local authorities.
The level of support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine remains stably high – 93%.
Do Ukrainians still believe in victory?
PHOTO AUTHOR, GETTY Photo caption, Kharkiv after another Russian attack
Despite their skeptical attitude towards the authorities, the majority of Ukrainians – 88% – continue to believe in victory in the war with Russia.
However, now the number of such people is somewhat smaller than at the beginning of the invasion - then there were 97%.
At the same time, the largest percentage of people (45%) believe that Ukraine will retain all of the territories it had in 1991.
16% believe that Ukraine will return the territories under its control by February 24, 2022. The same number of people think that Ukraine, on the contrary, will lose some new territories.
7% of people are convinced that Ukraine will return Donbas, but not Crimea. And the same number – that Ukraine will return Crimea, but without the so-called DPR and LPR.
Only 1% of respondents believe that Russia will be able to completely occupy Ukraine.
“Mobilization is insufficient”
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The study authors also asked respondents to express their attitudes toward mobilization.
The largest portion of respondents – over a third (36%) – called the level of mobilization insufficient.
Slightly less than a third (30%) consider the current level of mobilization optimal.
Just under a quarter (19%) said it was too high, and another 15% could not answer this question.
Ukrainians were also asked why, in their opinion, people do not want to mobilize into the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The most popular answer to this question was “fear of death, disability, captivity, uncertainty.”.
In second place is the option “unfair mobilization”, and in third place is “lack of equipment, ammunition and weapons”.
When is Christmas celebrated?
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Ukrainians were also asked what day they celebrated Christmas.
More than half (53%) of people responded that they celebrated Christmas according to the new calendar – December 25.
11% said they still celebrated on January 7. The rest responded that they either celebrated on both dates (17%) or did not celebrate at all (19%).
In September 2023, less than half – 42% – celebrated Christmas on January 25.
Do Ukrainians plan ahead?
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As for long-term plans, the survey found that the largest proportion of people plan their lives less than a month in advance, 24%.
23% said they plan their lives more than a year in advance.
15% cannot make any plans at all, another 12% plan their lives for up to a year. The rest of the people can plan their lives for a period of one to six months.
The survey also included a question about whether families' lives have gotten worse economically. The majority of people (68%) answered yes.
26% of respondents said that their economic standard of living had not changed at all. Another 5% said that their financial situation had improved.
As for predictions for the coming year, almost half of people (46%) believe that their economic situation will not change at all. 18% believe that it may get slightly worse, and another 15% believe that it will get slightly better.
How and who was asked
The survey was conducted in late February throughout Ukraine, except for the Russian-occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas.
People were surveyed through telephone interviews based on a random sample of mobile numbers.
In total, approximately two thousand Ukrainians aged 18 and older were surveyed. The survey did not include Ukrainians who are not currently in Ukraine.
The representativeness error does not exceed 2.2%.
