News and Press releases

• Recent polling data over the past three months shows a stable positive trend in public assessments of the country’s direction, along with rising levels of trust and electoral support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. According to a survey conducted by Rating Group between 16–18 May 2021, one quarter of Ukrainians believe the country is moving in the right direction, while two thirds hold the opposite view; another 9% were unsure. Younger respondents and supporters of “Servant of the People” and “Holos” tend to assess the situation more positively.
• Among all individuals who have held the office of President of Ukraine, the highest trust rating belongs to the incumbent, Volodymyr Zelenskyi: 46% trust him and 51% do not. Trust in Leonid Kuchma stands at 36% (with 58% expressing distrust), the same level of trust is observed for Leonid Kravchuk, although distrust is slightly lower at 53%. Viktor Yushchenko is trusted by 29% and distrusted by 66%. Petro Poroshenko is trusted by 24% and distrusted by 75%. Viktor Yanukovych has the lowest trust indicators: 15% trust him, while 82% do not. Compared to Poroshenko and Yanukovych at the same point in their presidencies, Zelenskyi’s trust/distrust balance is significantly more favorable.
• Parliamentary preferences are led by “Servant of the People,” supported by 24.8% of those who intend to vote and have made their choice. “European Solidarity” receives 13.5%, “Opposition Platform – For Life” 13.2%, and “Batkivshchyna” 11.8%. Support for other parties is substantially lower, with none exceeding 5%.
• If presidential elections were held soon, 30.2% of decided voters would support Zelenskyi. Petro Poroshenko would receive 12.8%, Yurii Boiko 11.9%, Yuliia Tymoshenko 11.1%, Ihor Smeshko 7.6%, and Yevhen Murayev 5.1%. Support for other candidates is below 5%. In all simulated second-round scenarios, Zelenskyi would win convincingly: he would defeat Poroshenko by 68% to 32%, Tymoshenko by 62% to 38%, and Boiko by 69% to 31%.
• When asked who they consider the best president of independent Ukraine, respondents most often named Leonid Kuchma (23%). Eighteen percent consider Zelenskyi the best, 14% point to Poroshenko, 13% to Yanukovych, and 12% to Kravchuk. Only 7% believe Viktor Yushchenko was the best. Nine percent said that none of the presidents were the best, and 5% were undecided.
• A quarter of respondents rate Zelenskyi’s second year in office as excellent or good, 34% as satisfactory, and 42% as poor or terrible. More positive evaluations come from residents of the West and Centre, younger respondents, and Zelenskyi’s own supporters. Among government initiatives, the highest ratings were given to the “State in a Smartphone” program, the “Big Construction” initiative, the release of prisoners and hostages, strengthening national defence, foreign policy, and efforts to unify the country. Mid-range assessments were given to the COVID-19 response, education reform, personnel renewal in public administration, the Donbas ceasefire, and social protection. The most negatively evaluated areas were healthcare reform, economic development, land reform, reducing oligarchic influence on politics, and combating corruption.

• A survey conducted by Rating Group on 15–16 May 2021 among Kyiv residents, using telephone interviews, shows that city dwellers assess the local situation more positively than the national one. According to the results, 32% believe the country is moving in the right direction while 58% disagree. In contrast, 42% rate the situation in Kyiv as moving in the right direction, whereas 51% see it as moving in the wrong one.
• In terms of personal trust, Vitali Klitschko enjoys the highest confidence: 51% trust him and 48% do not. President Zelensky is trusted by 45% and not trusted by 51%. Volodymyr Groysman is trusted by 33% and distrusted by 58%. Dmytro Razumkov receives 32% trust, 36% distrust, and 26% say they do not know him. Petro Poroshenko is trusted by 30% and distrusted by 68%; Yulia Tymoshenko by 21% and distrusted by 76%; Yuriy Boyko by 17% and distrusted by 65%, while 15% do not know him. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is trusted by 13%, distrusted by 58%, and 22% say they have not heard of him.
• Job performance evaluations follow a similar pattern. Fifty-three percent of respondents are satisfied with Klitschko’s work as mayor, while 46% are dissatisfied. Forty percent are satisfied with President Zelensky’s performance and 58% are dissatisfied. Only 16% are satisfied with Prime Minister Shmyhal’s work, while 69% are dissatisfied.
• A majority of residents—54%—do not support the idea of the central government appointing someone other than the elected mayor to head the Kyiv City State Administration; 37% support such an appointment.
• Perceptions of the COVID-19 situation in Kyiv improved significantly over the previous month. Now, 39% say the situation has improved (compared to just 6% in April). Forty-five percent believe nothing has changed (30% in April), and only 10% say the situation has worsened (down from 62% in April).
• Forty-eight percent of respondents believe that Mayor Klitschko is responding effectively to the coronavirus threat in the city, while 46% disagree. Thirty-five percent consider the President’s actions in this area effective, and 57% disagree. As for the Prime Minister, only 23% view his actions as effective, while 63% consider them ineffective.
• Thirty-nine percent report having already had COVID-19. Among them, 60% had a positive test result, while 39% say they had symptoms but did not get tested. Fifty-eight percent report they have not contracted the virus.
• Looking ahead, almost half of respondents (47%) express willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, while 50% are not ready to be vaccinated.

• A survey conducted by Rating Group shows that, in the view of respondents, the top priority for government action in the healthcare sector should be providing free medications for patients with serious illnesses. This issue was named by 54%. Other important priorities include purchasing new medical equipment for hospitals, which 29% singled out, and addressing flaws in the implemented healthcare reform, noted by 25%. Insurance-based medicine, improving doctors’ qualifications, and increasing medical workers’ salaries were highlighted by one in five respondents. Less frequently mentioned were hospital renovations, improving the quality of medical education at universities, and introducing official payments for medical services.
• An overwhelming majority supports the introduction of state programs aimed at assisting and protecting doctors who suffered from COVID-19, with support reaching 94%. Similarly, 87% back programs for post-COVID rehabilitation of vulnerable populations.
• Three-quarters of respondents—75%—support the introduction of health insurance in Ukraine, while only 17% oppose it. A relative majority, 55%, believe that the Minister of Health should not be replaced at this moment, whereas 25% would support appointing a new minister.
• Nearly half of respondents, 49%, think that political criticism of the government’s efforts to combat the pandemic does more harm than good. Twenty-six percent disagree. When thinking about personal risks linked to the epidemic, half say they are more afraid of the economic consequences for their families than of the virus itself. A third, however, fears the illness more than financial difficulties. Fifteen percent say they are not afraid of either—almost double the share recorded the previous November.
• Support for domestic vaccine production is strong: 61% believe Ukraine should manufacture all vaccines domestically, even if they cost more than imported ones. Additionally, 74% think Ukraine should begin developing its own COVID-19 vaccine, while 21% disagree.
• Twenty-five percent report having contracted COVID-19, and 69% say they have not. Among those who were ill, 64% sought medical help from state healthcare institutions, while 36% did not. Of those who used the public healthcare system during their illness, 52% rated the quality of consultations or treatment as good or excellent, 26% rated it as satisfactory, and 22% evaluated it as poor or very poor.

• According to a survey conducted by Rating Group, 65% of Ukrainians believe the country is moving in the wrong direction, while 22% think it is moving in the right direction and 13% are undecided. Younger respondents aged 18–29, residents of regional centers, and supporters of the Servant of the People party assess the country’s trajectory somewhat more positively.
• Two thirds of respondents are aware of the opening of the agricultural land market on 1 July 2021: 46% say they have heard a lot about it, and 32% have heard something. Another 22% know nothing about this reform, particularly the youngest respondents, city residents, and individuals who do not own land shares.
• A third of Ukrainians believe that the President and the Parliament had the greatest influence on the decision to introduce the agricultural land market. Only 12% attribute the decision to the Government.
• Seventy-seven percent of respondents think the decision to introduce a land market in Ukraine should be made through a national referendum, while 16% oppose this idea. If such a referendum were held, 58% say they would definitely participate, 17% would likely take part, and 20% would not. Among those who would participate and have decided on their vote, 64% would vote against launching the agricultural land market, and 36% would support it.
• An overwhelming majority—79%—oppose granting foreigners the right to purchase agricultural land in Ukraine, while only 15% support this idea.
• Sixty-five percent believe the Government should be staffed by specialists with prior experience in public administration, whereas 23% support the idea of bringing in so-called “new faces.”
• In parliamentary preferences, the Servant of the People party leads with 22.8% among those who have decided and intend to vote. European Solidarity receives 14.4%, Opposition Platform – For Life 13.7%, and Batkivshchyna 12.2%. Support for all other parties is significantly lower: the Radical Party has 3.7%, the Shariy Party 3.6%, Ukrainian Strategy of Groysman 3.5%, Svoboda 3.4%, Strength and Honor 3.2%, and For the Future 3.0%. Support for all remaining political forces is below 3%.

• According to a survey conducted by Rating Group, 66% of Ukrainians consume alcoholic beverages. One third drink less than once a month, 26% drink several times a month, 7% drink several times a week, and 1% consume alcohol daily. Despite this, 32% report that they do not drink alcohol at all. Alcohol consumption is more common among men, younger and middle-aged respondents, and people with higher incomes.
• Across all gender and age groups, men consume alcohol more frequently than women, and young people drink more often regardless of whether they live in cities or rural areas. In urban areas, younger and middle-aged respondents consume alcohol at similar rates.
• Among those who drink, wine (36%) and beer (29%) are the most popular beverages. Vodka is consumed by 20%, cognac by 17%, homemade wines and infusions by 14%, sparkling wines by 12%, whiskey by 7%, and samohon by 6%. Drinks such as cider, rum, vermouth, cocktails, gin or liqueurs are consumed by only 1–2%.
• Wine is more widely consumed in the western and central regions. Western regions also show higher consumption of homemade wines, infusions and samohon, while vodka is more common in the East. Young people prefer beer and wine, whereas older adults are more inclined toward vodka, cognac, homemade beverages and samohon. Wine, however, remains popular across all age categories. Women consume wine twice as often as men, and also drink homemade and sparkling wines more frequently. Men most often choose beer (40%) and vodka (31%), and they also consume more cognac, whiskey and samohon.
• Within gender-age groups, beer consumption is highest among young men, while vodka consumption peaks among older men. Among women, beer is likewise most popular among younger age groups. Stronger drinks such as vodka and cognac, along with homemade beverages, are more common among middle-aged and older respondents. Interestingly, older men and older women consume cognac at similar rates.
• People most often drink alcohol to mark a holiday or special occasion (67%). Thirty percent drink to enjoy time with close ones, and 24% to relax or lift their mood. Less common reasons include enjoying the taste (9%), pairing with food (8%), perceived health benefits (7%), or help with falling asleep (4%).
• A majority of respondents (54%) believe that safe, non-harmful doses of alcohol exist, while 45% disagree. Men are more likely to believe in the existence of safe doses. One in three respondents considers wine the least harmful alcoholic drink, and one in five believes homemade wines are less harmful. Only 10% consider vodka less harmful, 8% say beer, and 6–7% name cognac or samohon. A quarter of respondents are convinced that all alcoholic beverages are harmful, a view more common among younger people. Women most often name wine and homemade infusions as less harmful, while men more frequently point to vodka, beer and samohon.

• A survey conducted by Rating Group on 10–11 April 2021 among Kyiv residents via telephone interviews showed that people in the capital assess the local situation more positively than the overall state of affairs in the country. Thirty percent believe Ukraine is moving in the right direction, while 62% think the opposite. At the same time, 41% consider the situation in Kyiv to be on the right track, with 51% disagreeing. Younger and more affluent respondents tend to give more optimistic assessments than other groups.
• Sixty-six percent of residents say they frequently follow news about the coronavirus, 18% do so occasionally, and 10% rarely. Only 5% are not interested in such information at all. Nearly half of respondents view the actions of local authorities in managing the pandemic as optimal, while 30% believe the measures are too soft and 16% consider them too strict. In contrast, 38% view the actions of the central government as too soft, 36% as adequate, and 13% as overly strict.
• Forty-nine percent think Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klychko responds effectively to the coronavirus threat, while 47% disagree. Only 29% consider the President’s actions effective in this area, compared to 65% who consider them ineffective. For the Prime Minister, the balance is even less favourable: only 18% rate his pandemic response positively, and 69% negatively.
• A strong majority—72%—support the city administration’s decision to impose a strict lockdown from 5 to 16 April. Twenty-eight percent oppose it, with the highest opposition among younger and less affluent respondents. Fifty-six percent believe the lockdown will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Kyiv, while 41% think it will not. Sixty-nine percent say they would support extending the lockdown until the end of April if the situation worsened, while 30% oppose further restrictions. More than half—55%—support limiting public transport to special permits during the lockdown, while 44% are against such measures.
• Personal health concerns remain significant: 52% fear contracting the virus, while 47% do not. Worries for the health of relatives are even stronger, with 83% expressing concern. Anxiety is highest among older respondents and women.
• Thirty-seven percent say they have already had COVID-19, of whom 64% reported a positive test and 35% experienced symptoms but were never tested. Among those who fell ill, 42% had a mild course, another 42% had a moderate course, and 9% suffered a severe form of the disease. Sixty percent say they have not been ill. Sixty percent personally know people currently sick with COVID-19, and 42% know individuals who died from the virus.
• Over the past month, the share of Kyiv residents willing to be vaccinated has nearly doubled, rising from 27% to 50%, while 48% still do not plan to get vaccinated. Rejection of vaccination is highest among young people.
• Trust indicators show that Vitaliy Klychko is trusted by 56% of respondents and not trusted by 43%. President Volodymyr Zelensky is trusted by 43% and distrusted by 54%. Volodymyr Groysman receives 34% trust and 54% distrust. Petro Poroshenko is trusted by 33% and distrusted by 64%. Dmytro Razumkov is trusted by 33%, distrusted by 38%, with 25% saying they do not know him. Yuliya Tymoshenko is trusted by 21% and distrusted by 77%. Yuriy Boyko is trusted by 15%, distrusted by 66%, and 16% do not know him. Denys Shmyhal is trusted by 14%, distrusted by 48%, and 24% say they are unfamiliar with him.

• A survey conducted by the Sociological Group Rating shows that Ukrainians identify the country’s key problems as the military conflict in eastern Ukraine (47%), unemployment and lack of jobs (37%), and the coronavirus epidemic (35%). Twenty-seven percent consider low wages and pensions a major issue, while 21% point to bribery and corruption in government, and 19% each to government incompetence and rising utility tariffs. Sixteen percent highlight the inability to access quality medical care. Compared with July 2020, the share of those who view the coronavirus epidemic as a major national problem has doubled.
• On a personal level, respondents most often describe low wages and pensions (38%) and rising utility tariffs (35%) as their key difficulties. A quarter see the coronavirus epidemic as a personal problem; 24% point to the military conflict in the East; 23% cite rising prices for essential goods and services, and the same proportion name unemployment. Sixteen percent cannot obtain quality medical care, 14% face corruption, and 13% note government incompetence. Compared with July 2020, significantly more people now view rising utility prices and the pandemic as personal challenges.
• Roughly a third believe that state funds this year should primarily be directed toward fighting the coronavirus and increasing social benefits and pensions. Only 10% favor raising salaries for medical workers as a priority, 8% support spending on road construction, and 4% on increasing teachers’ wages.
• Forty-six percent rate the professionalism and competence of Ukrainian doctors as high, while 42% disagree. Since July 2020, the share of those who assess medical competence positively has grown.
• Over the past six months, 47% sought medical care in public health institutions; 53% did not. Those who did not are more often younger adults (18–29) and men. Among those who received care, 43% rated the services as good or excellent, 33% as satisfactory, and 23% as poor or terrible. Negative evaluations are especially common among older respondents (60+), urban residents, lower-income individuals, and men.
• Health Minister Maksym Stepanov is trusted by 19% and not trusted by 37%, while 34% do not know who he is. Former minister Ulana Suprun is trusted by 14%, distrusted by 61%, and unknown to 17%. Nearly half of respondents do not know former ministers Illia Yemets and Zoriana Skaletska; 8–9% trust them, and about a third distrust them.
• Around 30% believe President Zelensky and the Ministry of Health are responding effectively to the coronavirus threat, while more than half believe their response is ineffective. Only 18% view the actions of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada as effective, while more than 60% evaluate them negatively. Compared to November 2020, positive assessments of the central government’s response have somewhat declined.
• The main reason given for rising coronavirus cases in March is citizens’ failure to follow quarantine rules (46%). Other explanations include seasonal increases in respiratory illnesses (32%), ineffective governmental actions (28%), and the emergence of new variants of the virus (17%).
• A majority (63%) support Ukraine’s decision not to use Russia’s Sputnik-V vaccine, while 23% disagree. The highest opposition to this stance is found in the South and East.

• A survey conducted by Rating Group on 8–13 April 2021 among residents of single-mandate district No. 87 shows that people in the district assess the situation in their local communities more positively than the overall situation in the country. Forty-three percent believe things in their locality are moving in the right direction, while 42% disagree. In contrast, only 17% think the country is headed in the right direction, with 70% holding the opposite view. Younger and more affluent respondents tend to give more optimistic assessments at all levels.
• Trust in national political figures is limited: President Volodymyr Zelensky is trusted by 35% and not trusted by 57%; Petro Poroshenko is trusted by 25% and not trusted by 68%. At the regional level, the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council enjoys a relatively higher level of trust—43% trust it, while 24% do not, and a notable 33% were unable to evaluate it. The head of the regional administration, Andriy Boychuk, remains unfamiliar to most respondents: 60% say they do not know him, 14% trust him, and 20% do not.
• Among local political figures and candidates, Oleksandr Shevchenko shows the strongest trust rating, with 55% expressing trust and 35% distrust. Ruslan Koshulynskyi is trusted by 40% and not trusted by 42%. Vasyl Virastiuk is trusted by 30% and distrusted by 56%, while Marusia Zvirobiy-Bilenka is trusted by 20% and distrusted by 48%, with 23% saying they do not know her. Over the past month, distrust has increased toward Virastiuk, Koshulynskyi, and Zvirobiy.
• In the parliamentary party ranking within the district, the leading positions belong to Svoboda (supported by 22.8% of those who have decided and intend to vote) and Za Maybutnie (21.2%). Servant of the People receives 16.6%, European Solidarity 12.5%, and Batkivshchyna 11.8%. Support for all other parties falls below 3%. About 17% of respondents remain undecided.
• When asked about reasons that prevented them from voting in the 28 March election, respondents most often mentioned health issues (17%), lack of interest (15%), absence from their residence on election day (13%), uncertainty about whom to support (12%), and work obligations (10%).
• In terms of perceptions of who actually won the election, 38% believe Oleksandr Shevchenko was the real winner, 25% think it was Vasyl Virastiuk, and 10% point to Ruslan Koshulynskyi; one quarter could not give an answer. Perceptions of electoral integrity are also divided: 33% believe the election involved significant falsifications, 16% believe there were minor ones, 23% think there were none, and 28% are unsure. Thirty percent believe the falsifications benefited Virastiuk, while 16% say they benefited Shevchenko; only 1–3% believe other candidates were favored.
• Nearly half the respondents—49%—support cancelling the election results in the district and holding a repeat vote, while 40% oppose this. Opposition is strongest among supporters of Servant of the People and Virastiuk.
• If repeat elections were held next Sunday, 43.3% of decided voters would support Oleksandr Shevchenko, 26.7% would vote for Ruslan Koshulynskyi, and 23.9% for Vasyl Virastiuk. All other candidates who participated in the 28 March election would receive under 2%.

• A survey conducted by the Sociological Group Rating shows that 68% of Ukrainians believe the country is moving in the wrong direction, while 22% consider the direction correct and 10% remain undecided. Compared to March, these assessments have not changed. President Volodymyr Zelensky leads the trust rankings: 45% trust him and 52% do not. Trust in Dmytro Razumkov stands at 32%, with 35% expressing distrust and nearly a third saying they do not know him. Yulia Tymoshenko is trusted by 30% and not trusted by 68%; Petro Poroshenko by 25% versus 74%; Yurii Boiko by 24% versus 59%, with 14% unfamiliar with him. Only 17% trust Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal, while half do not, and almost a third have never heard of him. Viktor Medvedchuk is trusted by 16% and distrusted by 71%, with 11% saying they do not know him.
• In the parliamentary ranking, Servant of the People remains the leading party with 22.9% among those who have decided and plan to vote. European Solidarity follows with 14.6%, Opposition Platform – For Life with 14.2%, and Batkivshchyna with 12.9%. Support for all remaining parties is significantly lower, with most receiving between 2% and 5%.
• In the presidential race, Zelensky remains the frontrunner: 24.9% of decided voters would support him if elections were held soon. Poroshenko would receive 13.1%, Tymoshenko 12.1%, Boiko 11.9%, and Ihor Smeshko 6.8%. Other candidates—including Volodymyr Hroisman, Oleh Liashko, Dmytro Razumkov, Yevhen Murayev, Andriy Sadovyi, Arseniy Yatseniuk, Oleh Tiahnybok, and Kira Rudyk—receive lower levels of support.
• Second-round simulations demonstrate Zelensky’s advantage in all modeled pairings, with roughly one-third of respondents saying they would abstain or are unsure. Among those who are certain they would vote, Zelensky would defeat Poroshenko by 64% to 36%, Tymoshenko by 57% to 43%, and Boiko by 67% to 33%. In a hypothetical runoff between Tymoshenko and Poroshenko, the former would win 59% to 41%, while a Boiko–Poroshenko pairing would be nearly even, 51% to 49%.
• Concerns over COVID-19 remain high: 52% worry about becoming ill themselves, and 83% worry about the health of relatives. Anxiety has increased in recent months, especially among older respondents and women. Support for implementing a strict lockdown is widespread: 65% endorse it, and this share has grown since early March. Older people, residents of central regions, and those who fear infection are more likely to support stricter measures.
• The majority also support specific restrictions within a strict lockdown: 77% are in favor of closing restaurants and cafes, 63% support closing schools, and 59% agree with shutting down kindergartens. In contrast, nearly 70% oppose shutting down city and intercity transportation. Compared with the previous month, support for closing public venues and transport has increased. When asked about their own compliance, 55% say they would follow lockdown rules more diligently than in spring 2020, while 17% say they would follow them less and 26% at the same level as before.
• Perceptions of security have also shifted: 36% believe the likelihood of a full-scale Russian invasion is high, 31% consider it moderate, 15% low, and 12% see no threat. Compared to December 2018, the share of those who perceive the threat as high has increased nearly one and a half times.
• Two-thirds (68%) have heard about the first phone call between President Zelensky and U.S. President Joe Biden, with 50% viewing this news positively and 35% neutrally. Only 9% reacted negatively. Among those well aware of the conversation, nearly 70% assess it positively. Expectations for the bilateral relationship are optimistic: 43% believe relations with the United States will improve under Biden, 41% expect no change, and only 6% foresee deterioration.

• According to a survey conducted by Rating Group on 26–28 March 2021, 58% of Ukrainians say they frequently follow news about the coronavirus, 21% do so occasionally, and 12% rarely. Only 8% are not interested in such news at all. As infection rates rose, interest in pandemic-related information increased as well. Older people and women follow these updates more actively than others.
• Sixty-three percent support introducing a “strict” lockdown if coronavirus cases rise significantly, while 34% disagree. Since early March, support for tougher restrictions has increased. Sixty-one percent expect that the spread of the virus would decrease as a result of a strict lockdown, while 37% do not share this expectation. The strongest support comes from older respondents, women, and those who closely follow COVID-19 news.
• An overwhelming majority—84%—believe that Ukraine primarily lacks order, even if this limits certain freedoms. Only 11% say the country lacks freedom, even if this reduces order. The demand for order has grown over time and is now at its highest level since 2017.
• Among areas of citizen security, respondents gave the highest ratings to protection from emergency situations: 59% evaluated it as good or satisfactory. Protection from terrorist threats was rated positively by 48%, and social protection by 50%. Road safety received a 47% positive rating, the safety of life and property 43%, healthcare protection 40%, human rights protection 39%, environmental protection 37%, and protection from epidemics 34%. Forty percent rated protection from illegal migration positively, although a quarter of respondents were unable to assess it.
• The lowest ratings were given to judicial protection, which only 26% evaluated as good or satisfactory, and protection from corruption, which received the weakest rating—12%.
• Younger respondents tend to rate protection in all areas more positively. Exceptions include environmental protection and anti-corruption efforts, where evaluations remain consistently low across all age groups. There are notable regional differences: protection from terrorist threats is rated higher in areas where it is most relevant—large cities, Kyiv, and eastern regions. Residents of regional centers tend to rate road safety better, while social protection and judicial protection receive higher evaluations in smaller settlements. Environmental protection, protection from illegal migration, and several other areas receive the lowest ratings in the South. Health-related protections are rated most positively in western regions.
• In terms of trust in political leaders, President Volodymyr Zelensky leads the ranking: 46% trust him, while 51% do not. Vitaliy Klychko is trusted by 33% and not trusted by 54%. Volodymyr Groysman is trusted by 32% and not trusted by 58%. Dmytro Razumkov is trusted by 31%, not trusted by 36%, and 29% say they do not know him. Yuliya Tymoshenko is trusted by 29% and not trusted by 69%. Petro Poroshenko is trusted by 23% and not trusted by 75%. Yuriy Boyko is trusted by 23%, not trusted by 58%, and 15% do not know him. Arseniy Yatsenyuk is trusted by 22% and not trusted by 74%. Arsen Avakov also receives 22% trust and 68% distrust. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is trusted by 16%, not trusted by 51%, and 27% have not heard of him. Viktor Medvedchuk is trusted by 15% and not trusted by 74%, while 9% do not know him.

• The Sociological Group Rating conducted an exit poll on 28 March 2021 during the parliamentary by-election in single-mandate district No. 87 (Ivano-Frankivsk region). Given the COVID-19 pandemic, and in order to comply with quarantine requirements and ensure the safety of both interviewers and voters, the survey was carried out face-to-face at the exits of polling stations. Interviewers used electronic tablets to record responses.
• The exit poll covered 50 polling stations selected randomly with respect to even territorial representation. Respondents were approached according to a fixed step that remained unchanged throughout election day. The margin of error did not exceed 1.8%. In total, 3,892 effective interviews were collected.
• According to the results of the exit poll as of 18:00, Oleksandr Leonidovych Shevchenko (Za Maybutnie) received 32.4%. Ruslan Volodymyrovych Koshulynskyi (Svoboda) received 31.6%. Vasyl Yaroslavovych Virastyuk (Servant of the People) received 29.4%. Yuriy Dmytrovych Holinei (Platforma Hromad) received 3.4%. Mykhailo Vasylovych Nonyak (independent) received 2.3%. Oleksandr Leonidovych Shevchenko, running separately as an independent, received 0.5%, while Oleksandr Petrovych Shevchenko (independent) received 0.3%. Maria Mykhailivna Zholob (independent) and Serhii Oleksiiovych Syvachuk (independent) each collected 0.1%. Ruslan Petrovych Zozulia (Rozvytok i Dobrobut), Ivan Ivanovych Makar (Vazhlyvyi Kozhen), Yosyp Yosypovych Rezesh (KMKS – Party of Hungarians of Ukraine), Yurii Ivanovych Yurchenko (Nova Demokratiia), and Ruslan Yevheniiovych Derevoriz (independent) received 0.0%.

• A survey conducted by the Sociological Group Rating shows that 68% of Ukrainians believe the country is moving in the wrong direction, while 23% think it is moving in the right direction and 9% remain undecided. More optimistic assessments come from young people, residents of the West and Kyiv, and voters of Servant of the People and Holos.
• President Volodymyr Zelensky remains the most trusted political figure: 45% trust him and 52% do not. Yulia Tymoshenko is trusted by 30% and not trusted by 67%. Petro Poroshenko is trusted by 25% and not trusted by 73%. Yuriy Boyko receives 23% trust and 59% distrust, with 14% saying they do not know him. Mikheil Saakashvili is trusted by 23% and not trusted by 61%, while 11% have not heard of him. Viktor Medvedchuk is trusted by 15% and not trusted by 71%. Denis Shmyhal receives 15% trust and 53% distrust, with nearly one-third saying they have never heard of him. Oleksiy Danilov is the least known: only 6% trust him, 15% do not, and 77% have no opinion because they do not know who he is.
• In the parliamentary vote simulation, Servant of the People leads with 20.8% among those who have decided and intend to vote. European Solidarity follows with 15.0%, Opposition Platform–For Life with 14.8%, and Batkivshchyna with 12.4%. Support for the remaining political forces is significantly lower: Strength and Honor and Ukrainian Strategy of Groysman both receive 5.0%, the Radical Party 4.6%, Holos 3.5%, UDAR 3.2%, Yevhen Murayev’s Nashi 3.1%, Shariy’s Party and Svoboda 2.9% each, Za Maybutnye 2.4%, and Narodnyi Front 2.0%.
• Zelensky remains the frontrunner in the presidential race. If the election were held in the nearest future, he would receive 24.7% of the vote among those who intend to vote and have made their choice. Poroshenko would receive 13.9%, Boyko 12.6%, Tymoshenko 11.8%, while Ihor Smeshko would gain 7.7%. Groysman would receive 5.2%, Razumkov 3.8%, Lyashko 3.7%, Murayev 3.7%, Hrytsenko 3.3%, Yatsenyuk 2.8%, Tyahnybok 1.6%, and Kira Rudyk 0.5%.
• A large share of respondents do not support the protests in support of Serhiy Sternenko: 43% oppose them, 23% support but do not want to participate, and only 4% both support and are willing to join. Another 21% are indifferent. Over the past three weeks, the number of those who do not support these protests has increased.
• Seventy-four percent heard about the protest during which the Office of the President building was damaged (34% heard a lot, 40% heard something about it). A quarter of respondents know nothing about the event. Only 14% support the protesters’ actions, while 70% do not.
• Sixty-five percent believe those who damaged the Office of the President building should be required to clean up or pay compensation for the damage. Another 20% favor opening criminal cases against them, up to imprisonment. Only 9% believe no action should be taken.
• Since early March, the share of those who believe the coronavirus infection rate is rising has grown sharply: 68% think it is increasing (compared to 37% in early March). Twenty-two percent think the situation has not changed, and only 5% say the infection rate is declining.
• Support for a strict lockdown in case of rising infection has also grown: 61% back such measures now, compared to 56% at the beginning of March, while 37% oppose. Most respondents — 68% — prefer to impose strict lockdowns only in regions with dangerous levels of infection, whereas 26% favor a nationwide lockdown.
• A strong majority — 68% — believe Ukraine must use all possible means to return Crimea. Twenty-one percent think Ukraine should accept the peninsula’s occupation by Russia. Since 2014, support for Crimea’s return has gradually increased.
• Forty-five percent support resuming water supplies to temporarily occupied Crimea, while 48% oppose.
• Seventy-one percent consider Russia an aggressor toward Ukraine, while 22% disagree. The highest share of those denying Russian aggression is found among residents of the East and voters of the Shariy Party, Murayev’s Nashi, and Opposition Platform–For Life.

• Results of the survey carried out by the Sociological Group "Rating" revealed that 59% of respondents often follow the news about the coronavirus. 23% do it sometimes, 11% - rarely. Only 7% do not follow the news about the epidemic. Relatively higher number of COVID-19 information consumers was recorded among the elderly people and women. Over the last month, the frequency of such news following has increased almost up to the level of November last year, when there was a peak.
• The level of fear of getting COVID-19 personally is twice lower than the fear of someone in the family gets sick. Thus, 80% said they were afraid their relatives might get sick, and 19% had no such fears. On the other hand, 45% are afraid that they personally may get sick, 54% are not afraid.
• Over the year, the number of those who disagree with the opinion that the coronavirus is not worse than the common flu has increased (from 54% to 59%). At the same time, the number of those who share the opposing opinion has increased (from 32%  to 39%).
• Over the last month, there has been a slight increase in terms of the emotional tension index among respondents. Thus, in March, 26% assessed their emotional state as tense (in February - 23%). 43% assessed their condition as calm, 30% as average. Higher level of emotional tension is observed among women, older respondents, and especially among those who have been sick with COVID-2019 in severe form. Over the entire period of research (March 2020 - March 2021), the highest scores of emotional tension were recorded in November last year.
• The number of those who think they have had COVID-19 has increased over the last two months (from 16% to 24%). The number of the latter is higher among the middle-aged respondents, in the West and Center of the country.
• Among those who believe they have already had covid, half had tested positive for coronavirus, almost as many have had symptoms but had not tested. Among those who have experienced COVID-19, 42% have had mild form of the disease, 45% - average,  and 13% - severe.
• Considering the level of loyalty towards vaccination against coronavirus, the respondents’ opinions are split almost equally. 37% are loyal towards vaccination against COVID-19 (26% - super loyal, 11% - loyal). 41% are critics of vaccination (31% - super critics, 10% - critics). The rest are so-called "neutrals". Relatively higher number of vaccination critics  was recorded among young and middle-aged people (18-49 years old), women, residents of the South and East, voters of “Shariy Party”, “Murayev Party”, and “Opposition Platform – Za Zhyttia”. At the same time, the most loyal towards vaccination are supporters of “European Solidarity”, “Ukrainian Strategy of Hroisman”, and “Holos”. Those who are not afraid of getting sick with coronavirus, think they have had COVID-19 but had not tested, believe the vaccine is more about earnings than about protecting people, and think most vaccines are dangerous are generally more critical of vaccination.
• Despite the contradictory attitude towards the coronavirus vaccination process, over the last five years, loyalty towards vaccinating children against various diseases has increased: 65% definitely  and 24% rather support vaccination of children against diseases such as polio, measles, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, etc.
• Respondents relatively more trust vaccines made in the UK, the US, and the EU (about half). Do not trust - about 20%. Vaccines made in India are trusted by 30%, distrusted - 45%; 23% hesitated to answer. Vaccines from China are trusted by 17%, distrusted - 35%; 46% could not answer. On the other hand, Russian vaccines are least trusted: 19% trust them, 58% distrust; 24% hesitated to answer. Relatively higher number of supporters of the vaccine produced in Russia was recorded among residents of the South and East, senior respondents, super-critics of the coronavirus vaccination process, voters of “Opposition Platform – Za Zhyttia, “Shariy Party”, and “Murayev Party”. 
• Start of the vaccination campaign has somewhat updated willingness to get vaccinated against coronavirus: currently 38% are ready to get paid vaccination, and 47% are ready to be vaccinated for free. This is somewhat more as compared to last month (32% and 39% were ready in February, respectively). At the same time, half are not ready to be vaccinated even for free.
• At the same time, if the state insures against side effects, the readiness to get vaccinated for free increases up to 57%; 40% are still not ready.
• 27% are willing to be vaccinated with COVIESHIELD vaccine. 67% do not want to be vaccinated with this medication. Although in general older respondents are more willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, this trend is vanishing referring the readiness to be vaccinated with COVIESHIELD, especially among older women. In general, those who are not afraid of getting sick and believe in the myths about the coronavirus and vaccines, are less willing to be vaccinated with any vaccine.
• 71% think that mass vaccination against coronavirus will reduce the incidence in the world, a quarter disagree with this. Typically, half (!) of those who are not ready to be vaccinated believe that mass vaccination against coronavirus will reduce the incidence in the world.
• About one-third of respondents think that most or all vaccines are safe, while almost half believe that only some vaccines are safe, 16% think all vaccines are dangerous.
• The main reasons why people are not willing to be vaccinated against coronavirus in Ukraine are distrust in the vaccine currently imported and fear of side effects (about half). Every fifth cited distrust of the government as a whole and doubts that the vaccine would protect against new types of the virus. 13% distrust vaccination as such.
• 55% agree that vaccines were invented to protect people, while 38% think that vaccines are kind of a way to make money on people and to control them.
• Although the assessment of the vaccination efficiency in the world is optimistic, the attitude towards vaccination in Ukraine is very skeptical. The average score of the vaccination process in Ukraine is 2.3 on a five-point scale. A quarter rated the vaccination process in the country as terrible, one-third as poor, and one-third as average. Less than 10% rated the vaccination process as good or excellentl.
• 46% believe that the Minister of Health is most responsible for the timely vaccination of the population. 16% name the President, 15% - the Chief Sanitary Doctor, 11% - the Verkhovna Rada, 4% - the Prime Minister. Within a month, the assessment of the President's responsibility has decreased, while in terms of the Chief Sanitary Doctor it has increased.
• 34% said they had enough information about the progress of vaccination against coronavirus in Ukraine, 27% - rather enough. At the same time, for almost 40% information about vaccination is rather insufficient. Older respondents, as well as those who assess vaccination progress better, consider themselves more informed of the vaccination course. But even among them, every sixth lacks information about the vaccination progress.
• 44% do not know how to register for a coronavirus vaccination, 32% have heard about it, and 24% are well informed. The least informed are residents of the East and South. Among those willing to be vaccinated with the COVIESHIELD vaccine, one-third don’t know how to arrange it.
• Assessing common prejudices about vaccination, respondents’ opinion vary as follows: almost half of the polled (46%) agree that there are better ways to boost immunity than vaccination. At the same time, 42% share the opposing opinion. The statement that people with chronic diseases cannot be vaccinated is supported by 40%, 36% do not support it (23% have not decided). One-third of respondents believe that those who have already had the coronavirus do not need to be vaccinated, more than half - disagree.
• A quarter of the polled believe that it is better to get sick with coronavirus than to be vaccinated; over 60% share the opposing opinion about the latter thesis. In general, these claims are more supported by critics and super-critics of vaccination, people with an external position, as well as those who are not afraid to get sick with the coronavirus. Young and middle-aged people (under 50) are more likely to agree with the existence of better methods of boosting immunity than the vaccine. About one-third of respondents under 40 years old, as well as those who have experienced the coronavirus, agree that it is better to get sick than to be vaccinated.
• Comparing the threats of the virus and the vaccination process, the majority believes the virus itself is more dangerous (74%) as compared to the vaccine against it (15%). Those who are not afraid of getting sick and super-critics of vaccination, supporters of “Murayev Party”, “Opposition Platform – Za Zhyttia”, and “Radical Part”’ are more likely to notice the danger of the vaccine.

Fieldwork dates: 10–13 March 2021

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• A survey conducted by Rating Group in early March showed that 69% of Ukrainians believe the country is moving in the wrong direction, while 22% think it is heading in the right direction and 9% remain undecided. Compared to early February, these assessments did not change.
• The trust rating among politicians is led by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, trusted by 43% of respondents and not trusted by 55%. Yulia Tymoshenko is trusted by 28% and not trusted by 70%. Petro Poroshenko receives 25% trust and 73% distrust. Yurii Boiko is trusted by 24%, distrusted by 59%, and 14% do not know him. Denys Shmyhal receives 15% trust and 50% distrust, with nearly one-third saying they have not heard of him. Viktor Medvedchuk is trusted by 15% and distrusted by 70%, while 12% do not know him. Maksym Stepanov is trusted by 12%, distrusted by 32%, and more than half of respondents do not know him. Oksana Marchenko is trusted by 11%, distrusted by 50%, and unfamiliar to 31%. Serhii Sternenko is trusted by 10%, distrusted by 26%, and unknown to 58%.
• In the parliamentary ranking, the Servant of the People party leads with 19.5% among those who have decided and intend to vote. European Solidarity follows with 14.7%, the Opposition Platform–For Life with 14.3%, and Batkivshchyna with 12.3%. Support for other parties is noticeably lower, with Syla i Chest and the Ukrainian Strategy of Groysman at 5.3% each, the Radical Party at 5.0%, Yevhen Murayev’s Nashi at 4.0%, Holos and the Shariy Party at 3.1%, Za Maibutnie at 3.0%, Svoboda at 2.8%, UDAR at 2.7%, and People’s Front at 1.9%.
• Zelenskyy also leads the presidential ranking with 22.5% among those who intend to vote and have already made their choice. Petro Poroshenko would receive 14.6%, Yurii Boiko 11.6%, and Yulia Tymoshenko 11.3%. Ihor Smeshko is supported by 8.0%, Volodymyr Groysman by 6.6%, Yevhen Murayev by 4.6%, Oleh Liashko by 4.4%, Dmytro Razumkov by 4.2%, Arseniy Yatsenyuk by 2.9%, Vitali Klitschko by 1.7%, Oleh Tyahnybok by 1.5%, and Kira Rudyk by 0.3%.
• Thirty-seven percent believe that the level of COVID-19 incidence in Ukraine is rising, while 34% think it remains unchanged and 20% believe it is decreasing.
• Fifty-six percent support introducing a strict lockdown if COVID-19 cases begin to rise sharply, while 41% oppose such measures. Two-thirds approve of closing restaurants, cafés, and cinemas during lockdown; 58% do not object to closing gyms, 52% to closing schools, and 47% to closing kindergartens. At the same time, nearly 80% oppose shutting down intercity and city public transport.
• Forty-five percent believe the Minister of Health bears the greatest responsibility for ensuring timely vaccination of the population. Twenty-two percent place responsibility on the President, around 10–11% on Parliament and the Chief Sanitary Doctor, and 5% on the Prime Minister.
  

• According to a Rating Group survey conducted in late February 2021, 56% of respondents believed that inequalities between women and men in Ukraine were a rare phenomenon, while 35% were convinced that they were quite common. The latter view was more frequently expressed by women than by men. Over the past five years, there has been a slight increase in the share of those who consider gender inequalities widespread.
• When asked about career advancement opportunities in Ukraine, roughly half of respondents believed they were equal for both men and women. However, one-third were convinced that men had advantages in this regard, whereas only 12% believed women did. Regarding pay opportunities, 45% said men had more possibilities, 43% believed both genders had equal opportunities, and only 7% indicated women had an advantage. In politics, a majority of 54% believed men had better opportunities, 37% saw equal chances, and just 6% pointed to women. Notably, men were more likely than women to claim that opportunities were equal, while women were more likely to say men had advantages. Older respondents were also more likely to believe that men had greater opportunities. Professional, political, and social spheres have long remained male-dominated, so men tend to notice inequality less because it affects them less directly.
• In assessing family life and partnerships, respondents more frequently considered cooking (64%) and household chores (56%) to be “women’s” responsibilities. Between 30–40% said these tasks were shared by both partners, while only 3% believed they were mainly men’s duties. Regarding childcare, half of respondents said both partners shared the responsibility, while 41% claimed it was more often done by women. Thus, traditional role division remains more stable in the family sphere than in the professional one.
• Around half of respondents said that budget management and planning leisure activities were shared responsibilities. At the same time, about one-third stated that women more often took the lead in both financial and leisure-related decisions. Since women typically devote more attention to the household — which is considered their “work” — they are also more likely to manage family resources. The stereotype that “a man manages work, a woman manages the home” remains partially intact.
• Sixty-three percent said their relationship did not have a clearly defined “head of the household,” and decisions were made jointly. Twenty-one percent identified the man as the head of the family, while 14% said the woman was.
• In sexual relationships, respondents most often believed that both partners initiated sex equally (49%). Still, 40% said men initiated more frequently, and only 6% said women did. This reflects broader stereotypes of male activity and female passivity, not only in sexuality but in social roles more generally.
• Two-thirds believed men were the primary earners in a couple. Twenty percent said both partners earned equally, and 13% claimed the woman earned more. Professional achievement is still viewed chiefly as a male obligation and aspiration, giving men more space to earn and face less competition from women.
• Over the past five years, the share of people saying that women more often cook and care for children has gradually decreased. At the same time, more respondents now say leadership in the family is shared by both partners. However, compared to 2015, the share of those claiming that men earn more has risen, reversing the previous trend. As household tasks become easier due to technology and services, they require less time, and new norms of masculinity increasingly include a father’s involvement in child-rearing rather than solely financial provision.
• In matters of cooking, cleaning, and childcare, men often said these were “women’s” responsibilities or shared duties. Women, on the other hand, more frequently stated these tasks fell on them. As women’s employment and professional ambitions expand, they increasingly want to shift part of the domestic workload onto men. Meanwhile, men still often feel their masculinity is threatened by taking on stereotypically “female” tasks, which are routine, unpaid, and undervalued.
• Even though similar shares of men and women stated that budget management, leisure planning, and family leadership were shared, competition in these areas was common. Women were more likely than men to say they managed the money (42% compared to 20% of men). Regarding leisure planning, 39% of women and 30% of men said it was more often their responsibility. In terms of “leadership,” 21% of women and 29% of men said the role belonged to them. Thus, the “struggle” over who is in charge persists and may become even more complex as gender roles continue to blur.
• Although responsibility for intimate relationships was often described as shared, a relative majority assigned the leading role to men — and women said this slightly more often than men did. Earnings responsibility was also viewed as male-dominated, although 18% of women reported earning more than their partner.
• The presence of children influenced role distribution. Respondents with children were more likely to say that cooking was the woman’s responsibility and earning money was the man’s. This traditional model reflects the shift in a mother’s attention toward childcare and a father’s role in financial provision as family expenses grow.
• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased the time families with children spent on childcare and cooking. Women especially reported this: 42% said they spent more time on childcare and 34% on cooking. With children at home and often studying online, domestic duties expanded — and because these tasks remain coded as “female,” women’s workload increased as work and home responsibilities merged, contributing to rising stress.
• In “first date” scenarios, respondents more often gave the initiative to men. Fifty-six percent said a man should invite a woman on a date, while 43% said it depended on circumstances. Seventy-nine percent said the man should pay at the restaurant, and 18% considered payment a shared responsibility. This reflects persistent stereotypes that men should be active, financially responsible, and in charge.
• Only 5% accepted sex after a first date, while 44% said it depended on circumstances, and 50% considered it unacceptable. Social desirability likely influences responses, meaning some respondents in the “depends” category may actually be open to it.
• Men and women did not differ much on who should initiate the date, but men were more likely to take on financial responsibility for the restaurant payment, even though 25% of women accepted splitting the bill. Respondents almost never considered the possibility that only the woman would pay. Regarding sex after a first date, two-thirds of women considered it unacceptable, while nearly the same share of men said it depended on the situation. The absence of female initiative reflects social norms around sexual competence: women are rewarded for restraint, while men are expected to be eager and ready for sex, with their masculinity questioned if they do not initiate.
• More than two-thirds of respondents agreed that a man should fully provide for his family, that women’s workplaces involve more conflict, that a woman’s main calling is motherhood, that career success is more important for men, and that women are better at raising children.
• Around half agreed that sex is more important for men and that male friendships are stronger than female ones. Meanwhile, claims that men are better leaders or that women hold more responsibility for unwanted pregnancies received more disagreement, though still supported by 35–40%.
• Respondents were most likely to disagree with statements that a woman must obey her husband, that being a homemaker is full self-realization for a woman, and that men are generally smarter than women. These stereotypes are viewed as archaic and are gradually disappearing as roles transform.
• Over the past five years, support has declined for statements claiming that career success is more important for men, that sex is more important to men, that women are more responsible for unwanted pregnancy, and that women should obey men. Interestingly, respondents from western Ukraine were more conservative regarding gender roles and expectations. These views were also more common among older and poorer respondents. In the gender-age split, significant differences appeared among younger adults (18–35): young men were far more likely to support “patriarchal” views than young women.
• Sixty-eight percent said they would celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March, while 29% would not. Over the past nine years, the share of celebrants has gradually decreased. The holiday remains most significant for residents of the South and East and for those who are married. In Western Ukraine, nearly 40% said they would not celebrate. Among divorced or unmarried respondents, 35–36% said the same.

• A survey conducted by Rating Group from 14 to 22 February 2021 among residents of single-mandate electoral district No. 87 showed that respondents evaluated the situation in their local communities more positively than the overall situation in the region or the country. Only 16% believed the country was moving in the right direction, while 69% thought the opposite. Thirty-five percent said the region was developing in the right direction, whereas 48% disagreed. By contrast, 49% of residents believed that things in their own localities were going well, and 39% thought the opposite. Younger and more affluent respondents offered more optimistic evaluations at all levels.
• Among key spheres of life, respondents rated educational institutions, road conditions, and safety relatively better. Around 60% were satisfied with the work of schools and kindergartens, while one-third were dissatisfied. Fifty-one percent were satisfied with the condition of roads, and 47% were not. Regarding safety and crime prevention, 48% expressed satisfaction, and 44% expressed dissatisfaction.
• Forty-one percent were satisfied with the environmental situation, while 55% were dissatisfied. Satisfaction with citizen participation in local decision-making reached 38%, while 47% were dissatisfied. Social protection received 34% satisfaction and 57% dissatisfaction. Support for young families was rated positively by 32% and negatively by 57%. Healthcare received 31% satisfaction and 63% dissatisfaction. Only 29% were satisfied with citizen participation in decision-making at the national level, while 55% were dissatisfied. Twenty-one percent were satisfied with local anti-corruption efforts, while 60% were not. Job creation generated satisfaction among only 14% of respondents, while 82% were dissatisfied. Development of agriculture received 12% satisfaction and 81% dissatisfaction.
• Sixty-eight percent knew that a by-election for a Member of Parliament would take place in their district on 28 March 2021, while 32% were unaware of it.
• Among the candidates, Oleksandr Shevchenko was the frontrunner, supported by 42.8% of those who had decided and intended to vote. Ruslan Koshulynskyi received 21.4%, Vasyl Virastiuk 15.8%, and Marusia Zvirobiy 8.1%. Support for other candidates was significantly lower: Sviatoslav Nykorovych received 3.7%, Yurii Holinei 2.3%, Mykhailo Noniak 1.5%, and Stepan Bratsiun 0.4%. Around 12% remained undecided.
• In the party ranking for parliamentary elections, VO Svoboda led with 21.6% among those who had decided and intended to vote. European Solidarity received 15.7%, Za Maybutnie 15.1%, Batkivshchyna 12.9%, and Servant of the People 11.5%. Support for all other parties was below 4%. About 19% of respondents had not yet decided.

• A survey conducted by Rating Group shows that 68% of Ukrainians believe the country is moving in the wrong direction, while 22% think it is moving in the right direction and 10% remain undecided. Compared with early February, the share of those who view the country’s trajectory positively has slightly increased.
• The trust rating among politicians is led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is trusted by 44% of respondents and not trusted by 54%. Since January, his trust level has risen from 37% to 44%. Dmytro Razumkov is trusted by 29% and not trusted by 33%, while another 32% say they do not know him. Yulia Tymoshenko receives 26% trust and 72% distrust. Petro Poroshenko is trusted by 25% and not trusted by 74%. Yurii Boiko receives 23% trust and 60% distrust, with 13% unfamiliar with him. Denys Shmyhal is trusted by 14% and not trusted by 52%, and almost one-third have not heard of him.
• Zelenskyy also leads the presidential ranking: if elections were held soon, 23.1% of those who intend to vote and have made their choice would support him. Petro Poroshenko would receive 14.4%, Yurii Boiko 11.3%, and Yulia Tymoshenko 10.9%. Ihor Smeshko is supported by 7.2%, Volodymyr Groysman by 5.7%, Dmytro Razumkov by 5.3%, Yevhen Murayev by 4.9%, Oleh Liashko by 4.1%, Arseniy Yatsenyuk by 2.9%, while Oleh Tyahnybok and Vitali Klitschko receive 2.4% each.
• In the parliamentary ranking, the Servant of the People party leads with 19.7% among those who have decided and intend to vote. European Solidarity has 16.2%, the Opposition Platform–For Life 14.2%, and Batkivshchyna 12.0%. Lower levels of support go to Ukrainian Strategy of Groysman (5.1%), the Radical Party (4.9%), Syla i Chest (4.4%), Svoboda (3.8%), Yevhen Murayev’s party Nashi (3.5%), Holos (3.3%), UDAR (3.2%), the Shariy Party (3.2%), Za Maibutnie (2.8%), and People’s Front (1.9%).
• Seventy-five percent of respondents say they are aware of the National Security and Defense Council’s decision to impose sanctions on Viktor Medvedchuk and his wife Oksana Marchenko: 40% know this well, 35% have heard something about it, and 25% hear about it for the first time. Fifty-eight percent support the NSDC’s decision, while 28% do not. Among those well informed about the sanctions, support rises to 73%, with 23% opposing.
• As for the reasons behind the sanctions, 52% believe they are a response to Medvedchuk’s pro-Russian activities. Thirty percent see the decision as a clash between oligarchic interests, 16% interpret it as an attempt to return a pipeline to state ownership, 13% attribute it to pressure from the United States, and 10% view it as an effort to suppress the opposition.
  

• According to the results of a survey conducted by the Sociological Group Rating on February 6–8, 2021, for 43% of surveyed Ukrainians it is more important to be loved, while 38% – to love themselves. For young people, men, and those who have been in relationships for less than three years, it is more important to love themselves. In contrast, women more often prefer to be loved.
• 55% plan to give gifts on Valentine’s Day. Over the past two years, this figure has slightly increased (from 49% in 2019 to 55%). At the same time, 43% do not plan to do so. Men, younger respondents, and unmarried couples are more likely to plan giving gifts.

•  According to the survey carried out by the Sociological Group Rating on February 6-8, 2021, 49% of the polled often follow the news about the coronavirus, 24% do it sometimes, 16% - rarely. 11% are not interested in such news at all. Dynamics show that the public interest in this information has been gradually decreasing; older people and women follow such news more often than others.
• 57% of respondents consider the measures taken by the authorities to control the coronavirus to be optimal. 21% consider them too soft (mostly older generation), 9% - on the contrary, too severe (young and middle-aged). Over the last few months, there has been an increase in the number of those who assess measures to combat the epidemic as optimal. 
• 47% assessed their emotional state over the last week as calm, 23% - as tense. Compared to November last year, tension indicators have decreased. Higher level of anxiety, as in previous studies, are recorded among women, older people, and those who follow the news about the coronavirus more often. 
• Compared to November last year, the frequency of use of personal protective equipment has decreased somewhat. Thus, 78% of respondents state they often wear a protective mask, 18% - sometimes or rarely, 4% - almost never. 63% often disinfect their hands, 28% - sometimes or rarely, 8% - almost never. Only 10% often use protective gloves, 31% - sometimes or rarely, 59% - almost never. 
• Over the last few months, the level of satisfaction with the authorities’ performance referring the fight against the epidemic has increased. 39% of respondents are satisfied with the President's activities in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic (57% - dissatisfied). 33% are satisfied with the Ministry of Health and 65% are dissatisfied. 29% are satisfied with the activities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 61% are dissatisfied. 25% are satisfied with the activities of the Cabinet of Ministers, 69% are dissatisfied. 20% are satisfied with the performance of the Verkhovna Rada, 75% are dissatisfied. 
• The rating of trust in politicians is headed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy –38% of respondents do trust him, 58% - do not. 
• Vitaliy Klytschko is trusted by 34%, distrusted - 54%; Volodymyr Hroysman is trusted by 32%, distrusted - 58%. 26% trust Dmytro Razumkov and 37% do not trust him, 33% do not know him. 25% trust Y.Tymoshenko, 72% do not trust her. 24% trust Yuriy Boyko, 56% do not trust him. Petro Poroshenko is trusted by 23%, distrusted - 74%. 21% trust Arsen Avakov, 66% do not trust him. 20% trust Arseniy Yatsenyuk, 74% do not trust him. 12% trust Maksym Stepanov, 33% do not trust him (51% do not know him). Denys Shmyhal is trusted by 12%, distrusted - 54%, one-third have not heard of him. 
• 78% know that President Zelenskyy have enacted the decision of the National Security and Defense Council on the application of sanctions against TV channels "112", NewsOne, ZIK, 21% - do not know. 
• 49% support the decision to stop broadcasting on TV channels "112", NewsOne, ZIK, 41% - do not support. Since the imposition of sanctions, support for the decision has grown from 42% to 49%, while the number of critics has decreased from 47% to 41%. 
• It is important that among respondents, who know about the decision, the level of support is even higher (57%) and the number of critics is lower (37%). 
• At the same time, 72% of respondents support the introduction of state sanctions against individuals and legal entities of Ukraine in case their activities harm the country interests (46% - definitely support, 26% - rather support). Instead, if there is evidence of involvement of these individuals in terrorist activities or separatism, the level of support for sanctions against them increases up to 85% (67% - definitely support, 18% - rather support).