Just Over Half of Ukrainians Think Ukraine Is Moving in the Right Direction

After 17 months of grief, death and disaster, Ukrainians haven’t lost hope and have an optimistic vision of the future of their homeland. In early July, the study showed that Ukrainians are as happy as at the beginning of the full-scale war against Russia, and even happier than 20 years ago.

According to a new sociological survey, after the outbreak of a full-scale war in Ukraine, the proportion of citizens who believe that events in Ukraine are developing in the right direction has increased significantly. In December 2021 only 20 percent of respondents believed that Ukraine was moving in the right direction. In February-March 2023 the survey showed the highest rates – 61 percent.

“Yes, it sounds paradoxical that during the war events develop in the right direction. People see many shortcomings in our modern society. But they believe that all these problems can be overcome,” says Mykhailo Mishchenko, deputy director of the Razumkov Centre Sociological Service, in a comment to the Kyiv Post.

Now there is a slight decrease in this indicator. According to the latest survey, 52 percent of Ukrainians believe that events are developing in the right direction, down 9 points from the previous poll.

According to experts, although the situation in the country is many times more complicated and the morale of people is worse than before the war, a slim majority has an optimistic vision of the future prospect for the country.

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“It has to do with seeing the future. There’s a consolidation of society. Current events affect fluctuations in results. But one can’t say that people are not optimistic now,” Mishchenko added.

According to sociologists, the change in the number of “optimistic” Ukrainians is also influenced by the situation on the front. But even though the counteroffensive is happening slower than Ukraine would like, people have remained optimistic.

The research also showed that 93 percent of Ukrainians trust the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The second and third places for trust are occupied by volunteer groups and volunteer organizations – 87 percent and 83 percent.