Majority of Ukrainians see no distinction between Russian government and people in war responsibility

A vast majority of Ukrainians hold all Russians accountable for the aggression against Ukraine, with 64.5% believing that the Russian population is pressuring their country’s leadership to continue the war, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Razumkov Centre Sociological Service from August 8 to 15, 2024.

Ukrainian citizen next to her house following a rocket attack the city of Kyiv

The survey reveals that 76% of Ukrainians believe that all Russians are responsible for the aggression against Ukraine, while 20% disagree. This issue shows a high level of certainty in society, with only 4% lacking a clear position on the subject. The sentiment of collective responsibility of Russians is consistent across all age groups in Ukraine.

Additionally, 64.5% of respondents believe that the Russian population is pressuring the Russian leadership to continue the war against Ukraine.

Sociologists note this view is shared by both the youngest and oldest generations of Ukrainians – 66% among young people aged 18 to 29 and 60% among those aged 60 and up.

Researchers conducted the face-to-face survey in Vinnytsia, Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Zakarpattia, Zaporizhzhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Ternopil, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy and Chernihiv oblasts, as well as the city of Kyiv (in Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson oblasts—only in those territories controlled by Ukraine and in which no hostilities are being conducted.).

The study involved 2,017 respondents aged 18 and up. The theoretical sampling error does not exceed 2.3%. However, additional systematic sample deviations could be attributed to the consequences of Russian aggression, specifically the forced evacuation of millions of citizens.

ZMINA previously reported that most Ukrainians consider democracy the best system of government.