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Ukraine’s commitment to democratic principles remains steadfast: 82% of Ukrainians stated that it is important for the country to remain democratic, according to the results of a nationwide public opinion poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in March 2026.
“Russia’s full-scale invasion has affected almost every Ukrainian family, with 85% of respondents reporting the loss of a family member or friend since February 2022. Almost two-thirds stated that their physical health has deteriorated, and a similar proportion reported a decrease in their income. However, these immense war-related consequences have not weakened Ukrainians’ democratic aspirations. Thus, 82% stated that it is important for them that Ukraine remains a democratic country,” reads the report on the survey results, released on Wednesday.
Thus, despite the hardships Ukrainians are enduring, they retain hope: 59% stated that they are generally either “very optimistic” or “more optimistic” than pessimistic about Ukraine’s future.
Sociologists note that such results indicate a society that is determined not only to survive the war but also to emerge from it as a free, independent, and democratic nation.
The survey also illustrates that real disparities and serious problems coexist with this unity. The devastating reality of the military context significantly impacts social cohesion.
“When respondents were asked to consider a list of potential tensions in their communities, only 22% reported no such tensions. The most frequently identified divisions were between people with different political views (38%), between ordinary citizens and those in power (36%), and between Ukrainian speakers and Russian speakers (31%),” the report states.
At the same time, the survey showed that strong public support for democratic values coexists with growing expectations for democratic governance.
Sociologists note that public preferences regarding the timing of elections reveal some caution: only 13% of respondents indicated that elections should be held “as soon as possible, regardless of the intensity of hostilities.” Each of the three response options that suggest holding elections after the signing of a peace agreement garners more support. In particular, the largest number of respondents support the option of holding elections six months after the signing of a peace agreement (27%).
During the survey conducted from March 3-28, 2026, 2502 interviews were conducted.