New Poll Shows Ukrainians Optimistic about Nation’s Future

In a poll released this week by Rating Group, a Ukrainian sociological research company with a headquarters in Kyiv, indicated that Ukrainians are extraordinarily optimistic about the future of their country.

According to the poll, only 13% of the nation felt that “things were going the wrong direction” and a whopping 73% felt that things were “going the right direction,” which was down slightly from the record high of 80% saying that things were going well, this past April.

Interestingly, despite such high optimism that Ukraine was headed down the right path, 85% said that the economic situation in the country had “definitely” or “rather” worsened over the past six months.

However, despite a dour assessment of the preceding half a year, only 25% thought that the economy would “certainly” or “slightly” worsen in the next half a year.

65% of respondents said that they had work before the war, of which, only 34% said that they were now continuing to work as before. 19% said they were now working remotely and 6% said they had found a new job. However, 39% described themselves as currently being out of a job.

The highest self-described unemployment is found in the south (39%) and east (57%) of the country, which is down from a March 2022 peak of 56% and 74%, respectively.

Ukrainians were pragmatic in coming to terms with the disarray of the national economy and the lack of jobs. 57% said they would keep their job, even if their salary decreased “significantly.”

Other Topics of Interest

Diane Francis Interviews Mikhail Zygar, Yaroslav Trofimov on Prospects of Russia’s War on Ukraine

Video discussion with three leading expert journalists on the current situation in Russia’s war against Ukraine republished with the permission of the Peterson Literary Fund.

Only 9% said their salary had increased and 43% said their salary had not changed since the start of the war. However, 19% said they had seen their income reduced by 10-25%; 11% by 25-50%; and 11% by more than 50%. Of those with reduced salaries, 76% said that they understood that cutting their salary was “a forced step” due to the current situation in Ukraine.

Only 28% said they would like to go abroad for work, versus 70% who would like to avoid leaving Ukraine. Likewise, 90% said they would not like to see foreign residence, versus 9% who would like foreign residence.