Press releases and reports - How do the attitude of Ukrainians to Russia and Russians to Ukraine has changed

ESC or click to close

Press releases and reports

How do the attitude of Ukrainians to Russia and Russians to Ukraine has changed

The press release prepared by Maxim IEnin

The press release contains results of the joint project of the Kiev international Institute of sociology and the Russian non-governmental research organization «Levada-Center».

From December 6 to December 15, 2014 the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) conducted All–Ukrainian poll of public opinion. There were interviewed 2011 respondents aged 18 and older, living in all regions of Ukraine (including Kiev), except the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Survey was conducted only in areas controlled by Ukraine in Lugansk region. Survey was conductedin both areas of Donetsk region: territories controlled by Ukraine and territories that are not controlled by Ukraine. The selection is representative for the population of Ukraine aged 18 years and older.

The statistical error of selection (with probability 0.95 and at design–effect 1.5) doesn't exceed the following: 3.5% for indicators which are close to 50%, 2,8% – for indicators which are close to 25%, 2,0% – for indicators which are close to 10%, 1.4% – close to 5%.

The Levada-center from 23 to 26 January 2015 conducted a survey on a representative selection for Russian; 1600 respondents aged 18 years and older in 130 settlements of 45 regions of the country. The statistical error of the data doesn’t exceed 3.4%.

Ukrainians were asked the question: "What is your general attitude to Russia?". Russians were asked the question: "What is your general attitude to Ukraine?".

The attitude of Ukrainians to Russia and Russians to Ukraine has become more negative for the last three months. However, the attitude of Ukrainians to Russia is still more positive than the attitude of Russians to Ukraine (tabulation 1, diagram 1). Compared to the September survey, the number of positively Pro-Russian Ukrainians decreased very significantly on 9% (from 48% in September to almost 37% in December). The share of negatively-minded of Ukrainians to Russia significantly increased (from 41% in September to almost 48% in December).

Deterioration of attitudes towards Russia is observed in all regions. Percentage of the positively-minded population to Russia in the southern region decreased from 59% to 50.4%, in Central region – from 32% to 28.9%, in the Western region – from 25% to 19.3%. The share of positively-minded population towards Russia especially decreased (on 32%) in the eastern region – from 83% to 50.9% (tabulation 2, 3).

In Russia the share of positively-minded Russians to Ukraine decreased significantly – from 12% to 24%. Number of the negative-minded during the same period increased significantly – from 55% to 63% (Tabulation 1, diagram 1).

Press-release on this theme can be found in section «press releases and reports» or on this link.

Diagram 1. Dynamic of positive attitude of Ukrainians to Russia and Russians to Ukraine

Dynamics of Russian and Ukrainian answers on the question "What would you like to see relations between Ukraine and Russia?". These data are presented in tabulations 4, 5, 6 and diagrams 2, 3.

Compared to September in Ukraine significantly increased the number of those who want closed borders with Russia (45% – in September, 50% – in December 2014). Similar trend is observed in Russia where the number of those who want closed border with Ukraine increased by 6% (from 26% in September 2014 to 32% in January 2015).
The number of people who want a friendly and independent relations of the two states with open borders without visas and customs in Russia decreased by almost 10% from 62% to 52 %, in Ukraine – by 2% from 44% to 42%.
Supporters of independence (percentage of those who want independence with borders and customs, and those who want independence, but without borders and customs) increased in Ukraine by 3% in December 2014, compared to September 2014. This indicator reached a maximum level – 92% (diagram 2).
Supporters of independence (percentage of those who want independence with borders and customs and those who want independence but without borders and customs) increased in Russia by 6% in January 2015 compared to September 2014. In Russia this indicator, as in Ukraine, reached a maximum level – 84% (diagram 3).
7% of the Russian population and 3% of Ukrainian population want union Ukraine and Russia into one state (diagrams 2,3).
Most supporters of union Ukraine and Russia in the East, but here this number has decreased by almost half compared with September (from 13.3% to 7.1%). Least of union supporters are in the West (0.2%) and in the Centre (1.6%).

Diagram 2. What relationships with Russia are wanted in Ukraine?*

*Line on the diagram "Ukraine and Russia must be independent" is the sum of the first two columns in a tabulation 4, it is percent those, who want independence with borders and customs, and those, who want independent, but without borders and customs (see tabulation table below).

Diagram 3. What relationships with Ukraine are wanted in Russia?*

Tabulations

Tabulation 1. «What is your general attitude to Ukraine?»

Relation of Ukrainians to Russia, %					Relation of Russians to Ukraine, %
Date	Very good /mainly good	Very bad/mainly bad	Difficulty to say	Total	Data	Very good /mainly good	Very bad/mainly bad	Difficulty to say	Total
April.08	88	7	5	100	March 08	55	33	12	100
September 08	88	9	3	100	September 08	38	53	10	100
February 09	91	5	4	100	January 09	29	62	10	100
May 09	93	4	3	100	May 09	33	56	11	100
October 09	92	6	3	100	September 09	46	44	10	100
March 10	90	6	4	100	March 10	59	29	12	100
June 10	92	6	3	100	July 10	70	22	9	100
October 10	93	4	3	100	October 10	67	21	12	100
November 11	80	13	7	100	September 11	68	23	9	100
February 12	85	9	6	100	January 12	64	25	12	100
September 12	83	11	6	100	September 12	74	17	10	100
February 13	85	8	7	100	February 13	69	21	9	100
May 13	81	10	9	100	May 13	72	18	9	100
November 13	82	10	8	100	September 13	69	22	8	100
February 14	78	13	9	100	January 14	66	26	9	100
May 14	52	38	10	100	May 14	35	49	17	100
September 14	48	41	11	100	September 14	32	55	13	100
December 14	36,5	47,5	16	100	January 15	24	63	13	100

Tabulation 2. «What is your general attitude to Russia?»

Distribution by Ukraine macro-regions (data for September 2014)

Variants of answers	West	Central	South	East(with Donbas)	Ukrainein general
Very good	2.9	1.9	19.0	38.6	14.4
Mainly good	22.3	30.0	39.8	44.4	33.7
Mainly bad	35.6	28.3	17.7	6.2	22.6
Very bad	32.1	25.6	9.1	4.7	18.7
Difficulty to say	7.1	14.2	14.4	6.0	10.7
Total	100	100	100	100	100

Tabulation 3. «What is your general attitude to Russia?»

Distribution by Ukraine macro-regions (data for December 2014)

Variants of answers	West	Central	South	East(with Donbas)	Ukrainein general
Very good	2.6	2.9	9.0	17.1	7.4
Mainly good	16.7	26.0	41.4	33.8	29.1
Mainly bad	38.2	27.4	22.1	13.3	25.5
Very bad	31.4	22.9	13.6	19.8	21.7
Difficulty to say	10.9	14.8	14.0	26.0	16.3
Total	100	100	100	100	100

Tabulation 4. What would you like to see Ukraine's relations with Russia?
(data for December 2014)

	In Ukraine
Date	They should be the same as with other countries with closed borders, visas, customs	Ukraine and Russia should be independent but friendly states with open borders without visas and customs	Ukraine and Russia should unite in one state	Difficulty to say	Total
April.08	10	67	20	3	100
September 08	17	66	16	2	100
February 09	8	68	23	1	100
May 09	10	65	23	2	100
October 09	11	67	19	3	100
March 10	11	67	19	3	100
June 10	12	70	16	2	100
October 10	10	67	20	2	100
November 11	13	67	16	1	100
February 12	13	69	16	2	100
September 12	11	72	14	3	100
February 13	13	68	16	3	100
May 13	11	69	14	5	100
November 13	12	73	9	6	100
February 14	15	68	12	5	100
May 14	32	54	8	5	100
September 14	45	44	5	6	100
December 14	50	42	3	5	100

Data	In Russia
	They should be the same as with other countries with closed borders, visas, customs	Ukraine and Russia should be independent but friendly states with open borders without visas and customs	Ukraine and Russia should unite in one state	Difficulty to say	Total
March 08	19	56	19	6	100
September 08	24	52	13	11	100
January 09	29	51	12	8	100
May 09	25	55	14	6	100
September 09	25	55	13	7	100
March 10	25	55	14	6	100
July 10	17	64	13	6	100
October 10	16	60	18	6	100
September 11	16	63	14	6	100
January 12	16	61	16	8	100
September 12	14	60	20	6	100
February 13	13	64	18	6	100
May 13	19	58	15	8	100
September 13	23	55	16	6	100
January 14	19	59	16	6	100
May 14	28	54	12	6	100
September 14	26	62	7	5	100
Data	32	53	7	8	100

Tabulation 5. What would you like to see Ukraine's relations with Russia?
(by regions of Ukraine, September 2014)

Date	They should be the same as with other countries with closed borders, visas, customs	Ukraine and Russia should be independent but friendly states with open borders without visas and customs	Ukraine and Russia should unite in one state	Difficulty to say	Total
Western	71.3	23.1	0.2	4.4	100
Central	57.3	33.2	1.9	7.4	100
South	35.5	46.8	4.9	12.6	100
Eastern	8.4	77.7	13.3	0.6	100

Tabulation6. What would you like to see Ukraine's relations with Russia?
(by regions of Ukraine, December 2014)

Date	They should be the same as with other countries with closed borders, visas, customs	Ukraine and Russia should be independent but friendly states with open borders without visas and customs	Ukraine and Russia should unite in one state	Difficulty to say	Total
Western	71.9	23.8	0.2	3.8	100
Central	63.9	30.6	1.6	3.9	100
South	35.9	55.8	5.0	3.3	100
Eastern	19.3	62.7	7.1	9.8	100