'Ukrainian optimism falls amid rising prices and criticisms of government', survey suggests

Ukrainian conflict: follow the latest developments via our live report

Notably, 21 percent of individuals were unable to decide which direction Ukraine is heading towards.

The survey also reveals that 33 percent of participants believe Ukraine has the capability to overcome its present challenges and difficulties in the next few years. However, 42 percent view this as a longer-term prospect.

A mere 9 percent of those surveyed believe that Ukraine lacks the ability to overcome the existing problems.

Since last year, optimistic respondents have decreased from 49 percent to the current 33 percent, while the pessimists have seen an increase from 3 percent to 9 percent.

A significant 86 percent of participants state that there has been a concerning increase in the prices of essential goods and utilities.

Besides, 46 percent of participants criticise the government's attitude towards its citizens and the salary levels. Additionally, 41.5 percent observed degradation in the enforcement of law by state officials.

On a positive note, respondents experienced no changes in matters of pensions, healthcare, the level of democracy, freedom of speech, and education. There was a marked enhancement in the country's defensive capabilities (51% of respondents) and Ukraine's international image (50.5% of respondents).

The Razumkov Centre, a non-profit Ukrainian organisation focussed on research and commentary on Ukrainian politics, ran the survey from 19 to 25 January 2024.

The study consisted of 2000 adult respondents from various regions of Ukraine under the authority of Kyiv, including Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson.

The authors of the survey indicate the statistical error does not exceed 2.3 percent. However, they note additional deviations may be due to the consequences of Russian aggression, specifically the forced exile of millions of citizens.