Ukrainians believe in the victory over Russia, support the actions of President Vladimir Zelensky and expect the country’s early entry into the European Union
This is indicated by results of the surveys conducted by the Sociological group “Rating”. The reliability of the received data can be questioned but it is surely close to the reality. Ukrainians are zombified by their propaganda, but this zombification will not help Ukraine itself.
Since the start of the Russian military operation, the sociological group “Rating” has already conducted several nationwide surveys in Ukraine. If the results are to be believed, the country’s population is optimistic about the future. On February 26-27, 70% of respondents were sure that Ukraine will be able to “repulse the attack of the Russian occupiers” (16% were not sure). The level of support for the actions of Vladimir Zelensky rose to the fantastic mark of 91%.
By March 1, the results of a more in-depth sociological survey appeared on the Rating’s website:
– 90% of respondents, when thinking about the situation in the country, feel hopeful (only 5% feel disappointed);
– 88% believe that Ukraine “will be able to repel Russia’s attack” (only 10% do not believe it);
– 93% support Zelensky’s actions;
– 80% of respondents said that they are ready “to defend the integrity of Ukraine” with weapons in their hands;
– 86% support Ukraine’s accession to the EU, 76% – are in favor of joining NATO. At the same time 61% believe that Ukraine will become a member of the European Union in the near future (in the range of one to two years).
The credibility of these data can be questioned, of course, for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it is difficult to conduct a meaningful sociological survey in a country that is engulfed in large-scale hostilities. Secondly, today almost all opinion leaders in Ukraine (journalists, politicians, experts, public figures, creative intellectuals) promote the “successes” of the AFU and the president’s office. Sociologists should face the same task.
Thirdly, there is a certain percentage of those polled who are simply afraid “in wartime conditions” not to support Zelensky, not to believe in victory and to doubt the prospects of European integration of Ukraine. First of all we are talking about civil servants. Attempts to keep their sanity and soberly assess the situation in the country can turn into either criminal prosecution or trivial reprisals. A prime example of this is Vladimir Struk, head of the Kremenets Autonomous Oblast, who voluntarily agreed to co-operate with Russian troops on the grounds that he wanted to save the lives of civilians. On 1 March, he was kidnapped and killed by unidentified men in camouflage uniforms. Official Kiev, represented by Assistant Interior Minister Anton Gerashchenko, supported the massacre.
Apparently, ordinary Ukrainians are also afraid of saying too much and incurring the wrath of mad radicals.
That is why they prefer to give only “right” answers to all the questions of sociologists: We support Zelensky, we do not doubt that he will win and so on.
A remarkable fact: the results of the opinion poll of March, 1 were published on the “Rating” site the same day. And we are talking about a serious sociological survey! That is, during a few hours they had to survey 1200 Ukrainians from all the regions of the country, to systematize their answers, to make graphs and so on. This is a painstaking and difficult work. It is no coincidence that the results of opinion polls often appear 2-3 days after they have been conducted.
And yet there is reason to believe that the data made public is close to reality. Vladimir Zelensky’s rating has definitely jumped after the events of the last few days. There has been electoral mobilisation in Ukraine.
There is nothing surprising in it: sociologists have long noticed that acute crisis situations often strengthen the position of the current authorities.
People believe that now is not the time for domestic disputes – it is necessary to support those who are at the helm of the state. Thus, for example, George Bush’s rating soared by 35% after the events of September 11, 2001 – a unique case in the history of the USA.
Today the Ukrainians are in a state of shock. Their response is not a rational analysis of events but rather a desire to hold on when the ground is slipping from under their feet.
Besides, you have to hand it to Ukrainian propaganda – it works. Propagandists have become almost everyone capable of influencing public opinion. They all relay a standard set of theses: Putin has already lost, the AFU is “crushing the enemy on all fronts”, the Russian army is demoralised and so on.
People are literally brainwashed into thinking that the situation is under control. And in general, life is getting better! Very soon Ukraine will be admitted to the European Union (we just have to stand firm and win).
Again, this has already happened in history. The Polish army confidently “defeated” the Germans before 17 September 1939. The Armenians have more recently been “defeated” in the Second Karabakh War. Ukraine itself has a relatively recent experience of fighting for Debaltsevo, when official Kiev ignored the threat of encirclement of its grouping until the very last. Even after the formation of the “cauldron” representatives of the Ministry of Defence continued to put a good face on a bad game. The result was a crushing defeat for the AFU, the loss of territory and the signing of the second Minsk agreements. Truly, history teaches man only that man learns nothing from history.
Alexey Ilyashevich, Rubaltic.Ru