Twentieth national poll. The image of veterans in Ukrainian society (January 14-16, 2023)

The survey was conducted on the initiative of the "Ukrainian Veteran Fund" of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine. Funded by the Sociological Group "Rating"

 

• According to the results of the Twentieth national poll conducted by the Sociological Group "Rating" on the initiative of the "Ukrainian Veteran Fund" of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine on January 14-16, 2023, 47% of the respondents noted that among their relatives and friends there were those who had participated in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine between 2014 and 2021. 63% have among their close people those who fought or are fighting at the front, starting from February 24, 2022. Compared to the survey in August, the number of those whose loved ones are fighting at the front today has increased.

 

• Society continues to record the highest levels of trust in the military: 95% trust the military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 93% - veterans of the current war, and 95% - veterans of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) in 2014-2021. Regardless of region and age, the absolute majority trust these categories of the population.

 

• Speaking about the main features of the image of veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war, half of the respondents describe them as middle-aged people, and those who currently serve in the Armed Forces. Respondents do not see a gender difference in the concept of "veteran" - the absolute majority (87%) are convinced that representatives of both genders can be a veteran. On the other hand, such a feature as disability is not decisive for the concept of "veteran": 41% hesitated when they had to decide on the answer to this question, 30% believe that they imagine a "veteran" as a rather healthy person, 29% - precisely as a person with a disability.

 

• Conflicts in the family, lack of job, and abuse of alcohol or drugs are key problems that veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war are likely to face after returning home. This is the opinion of more than half of the polled. Regarding the risks of suicide and breaking the law, the vast majority (at least two-thirds) consider it unlikely for veterans. Compared to the survey in August, the number of those who foresee the risks of conflicts in families and abuse of alcohol or drugs has increased. Relatives of ATO veterans who fought and are fighting now feel the presence of conflict in the family, or abuse of alcohol or drugs, more acutely. Relatives of those who are no longer fighting feel more acutely about unemployment. Women spoke more often about the risks of conflicts in the family and the lack of job for veterans, while the risks of alcoholism, drug addiction, or breaking the law were more often pronounced by men.

 

• The level of salaries of military personnel directly participating in hostilities is considered optimal by 40%, less than necessary - by 34%, more than necessary - by 8%, and 18% were unable to answer on the matter. Regarding the salary of soldiers serving in the rear, half rated it as optimal, 13% - less the necessary, 11% - more the necessary, 25% - could not estimate. Compared to the survey in August 2022, there are no sharp changes in the assessment of the salary of the mentioned categories of military.

 

• The number of those who believe that the state fulfills its obligations to veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war has decreased: in August 2022, there were 69% of them, while in January 2023 – 53%. These days, the number of those who share the opposing opinion is 26%. Residents of the western regions, representatives of the middle-aged and older generations, relatives of those who fought in the ATO and are not fighting today reveal a negative opinion about the fulfillment of the state's obligations to veterans.

 

• The absolute majority (91%) believes that society respects veterans, only 6% share the opposing opinion.

 

• The absolute majority (97%) of those who run their own business, or would like to have one, are ready to hire a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war. 93% of all respondents indicated that they are ready to work in the same team with such a veteran.

 

• 93% support the idea of granting benefits to businesses founded by veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war, only 5% stand against it.

 

• Veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war (54%), persons with disabilities (35%) and large families (35%) should have the most benefits and guarantees from the state, according to the respondents. The provision of benefits for single mothers/fathers is supported by 17%, for pensioners – by 12%, for those with low income and internally displaced persons – by 9-10% each, for those who suffered from Chernobyl disaster - only 3%.

 

• 75% do not agree with the opinion that veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war abuse benefits. 13% share the opposing opinion. Compared to August 2022, public opinion on this issue has hardly changed. Residents of the East, relatives of those who are fighting at the front today, poor and low-income citizens spoke most often about the abuse of benefits.

 

• 14% of respondents said that they communicated with the military, who were on the front line, every day or almost every day. 21% talk to them at least once a week, 14% - several times a month. Almost half of the respondents contact with the military who are fighting today rarely or almost never. Most of the latter are among residents of the East, the older population, and women.

 

• 9% noted that they communicated with veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war almost every day, 14% – at least once a week, 11% – several times a month, two-thirds - rarely or never. The main reason for not communicating with veterans is the absence of such persons in one’s environment. 13% indicated the unwillingness to evoke unpleasant memories as the reason for the lack of communication with veterans. About 4-5% said that they do not communicate because of the fear of saying the wrong thing or lack of common topics to discuss.

 

• Two-thirds of respondents indicated that they were completely or somewhat uninformed about the problems of veterans. 37% stated that they were informed. More of the latter was recorded among residents of the Center and South, middle-aged people, relatives of those who fought during 2014-2021, men, and those who often communicate with veterans.

 

• Among the main problems that veterans face most often, the relative majority identified psychological disorders (40%). 23% to 29% consider the main problems to be difficulties with registration of benefits, job search, receiving healthcare, misunderstanding of society. Conflicts with family and friends or alcohol or drug addiction were mentioned by 14% of the respondents as problems of veterans.

 

• TV (37%), stories of relatives and friends (37%), news from social networks (34%) are the main sources of information about veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war and their problems. 22% learn about such things from Telegram channels or Viber, 19% - from Internet mass media, 13% - from personal experience.

 

• 47% of respondents reveal a rather positive attitude towards the fact that various political forces can invite veterans to run in the elections. 15% don't care of it. On the other hand, one-third (32%) share a negative attitude towards politicians' involvement of veterans in elections. Most of the latter are among residents of the West and Center, young and middle-aged people, those with high income, as well as relatives of those who fought in the ATO and those who fought and are currently fighting.

 

 

Audience: the population of Ukraine aged 18 and older in all regions, except for the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas, as well as territories where there was no Ukrainian mobile connection at the time of the survey. The results were weighted using current data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. The sample is representative by age, gender, and settlement type. Sample population: 1000 respondents. Survey method: CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews). The margin of error of the study with a confidence probability of 0.95: does not exceed 3.1%. Dates: January 14-16, 2023.