Ukrainian society has undergone profound transformations during the full-scale war: from changing expectations and values to rethinking the role of the state in the world. Yevhen Holovakha, Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine, Director of the Institute of Sociology of the NAS of Ukraine explains it in his interview with Ukrainian Radio.
First, the scientist highlighted the scale of losses Ukraine has suffered – both material and human. At the same time, deep transformations have taken place in society’s perception of the country’s future. According to results of the long-term monitoring performed by the Institute of Sociology, while only 19% of Ukrainians positively assessed Ukraine’s prospects in 2021, by 2022 the figure rose to over 70%. The professor calls this sharp rise the phenomenon of "shock euphoria". Later, the level of optimism somewhat decreased, but even now more than 60% of Ukrainians maintain a positive view of the future.
The final definition of the geopolitical vector of the state's development has also changed significantly. If earlier different orientations coexisted in society - to the East and the West, now a clear Euro-Atlantic position dominates. Even in regions where the orientation to the East was previously supported, it has lost popularity.
According to Yevhen Golovakha, the war also finally destroyed the narrative of Ukraine's lack of subjectivity imposed by Russian propaganda. If about 15 years ago only 30% of citizens considered Ukraine a subject of world politics, now it is perceived as an important participant in global processes.Ukrainian experience, especially in the field of modern technologies, is of interest to international partners, and the level of respect of citizens for their state has increased significantly.
The structure of public perception about influential social groups has also changed. Before 2014, Ukrainians tended to consider criminal structures to be the most influential force, later - politicians and officials, however, after the start of a full-scale war, priorities changed radically. Now the army is in first place, followed by business representatives, workers, peasants and intellectuals. Criminal groups have ended up among the least influential. At the same time, the vast majority of entrepreneurs suffered losses of varying magnitude, which also affected the public perception of economic processes.
The sociologist also drew special attention to the issue of social cohesion. Among the factors complicating it, citizens name problems related to mobilization processes. In particular, discussions around the activities of territorial recruitment centers evoke different, often opposing assessments.
Despite society’s gradual transition to a more restrained and realistic vision of the situation, the level of belief in victory remains high. The share of those who do not believe in victory has increased from 4% to 17%, but about two-thirds of Ukrainians still believe in it. According to sociological research, 62% of individuals are ready to endure difficulties as long as it takes to achieve victory, and another 17% – for a limited time.
Studies of the psycho-emotional state of the population also indicate a significant resilience of society. According to the scientist, only 12% of respondents demonstrated a level of stress that could lead to serious psychological disorders.
An important topic of the interview was the transformation of the concept of victory. Nowadays, more and more Ukrainians associate it primarily with the preservation of statehood and independence. According to sociological surveys, about 52% of citizens allow for the possibility of ending the war along the demarcation line with a subsequent political settlement, while about 40% are not yet ready to accept such a scenario. At the same time, the idea of capitulation remains unacceptable to the vast majority.
Assessing the situation with Ukrainians abroad, the sociologist noted that their return will largely depend on the level of integration in the host countries. Some citizens who have not been able to adapt will likely return, while those who have already settled there may remain abroad. In this context, the scientist emphasized the need for a clear state return policy, which would provide for real opportunities for employment and resumption of life in Ukraine.
Yevhen Holovakha also highlighted the growth of national identity. If in 1992 only 42% of citizens identified themselves as Ukrainians, now this figure has risen to about three-quarters of the population.
In general, despite all the challenges, Ukrainian society demonstrates a high capacity for adaptation and maintaining internal resilience. Scholars emphasize the importance of supporting this resilience, social cohesion, trust in public institutions, and further strengthening of Ukrainian identity in the process of rebuilding the country.