45% of respondents, questioned in September, support granting Russian the status of the state language. 47% are against this, 8% have not decided on this issue.
It should be noted that in April 2010 the parity between pros and cons (46% to 46%) was registered, while before presidential elections in October 2009 and immediately after elections in March 2010 sociological survey recorded the balance in favor of "pros" - 52% to 41% and 54% to 40%, respectively. Interestingly, the number of respondents who have not decided on the matter remained unchanged.
Such changes are primarily caused by aggravation of the marker in the West, on one hand, and its softening on other territories, except Donbas. There is a reorientation of voters (including a part of the Party of Regions) towards other problems, especially of social and economic character. Accordingly, the issue of language - the traditional instrument of election campaigns - does not look so conceptional any more.
Other markers have also softened significantly, although the situation may change again after the beginning of the active phase of local elections campaign.
For example, if before presidential elections in October 2009 the formation of one state with Russia and Belarus was supported by 67% of respondents and not supported by 24%, in April and September 2010 we registered the parity "for" and "against" at 44% to 44% and 45% to 45%, respectively.
Besides the above mentioned factors these processes were forwarded by the change in rhetoric of the former opposition (the new government). Accordingly, last October Ukraine's accession to the European Union was supported by 51% of respondents, not supported by 33% of respondents; while this April the balance has changed - 52% to 29%, and in September it was 57% to 28%.
The attitude towards NATO has also somewhat improved. Last October 69% were opposed to Ukraine’s accession to the Alliance and only 22% were for it; the balance has changed in September - 63% to 26%. Ukraine's accession to NATO is still supported by none of the CPU voters and only 7% of the voters of the Party of Regions, changes occurred among voters of oppositional political forces.
Interestingly, since March 2010 the number of people who support the stationing of the Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine has increased (from 41 up to 46%), as well as the number of opponents of this decision (from 38% to 41%). The number of supporters of this decision has primarily increased in the South and decreased in the West.
The idea to abolish the order of the President Viktor Yushchenko as to awarding S. Bandera “the Hero of Ukraine” title found support with 53% of respondents (just like in March 2010), while the number of people who oppose this decision has increased from 28% to 31% - this is another proof of aggravation of ideological markers in the West.
Among countries that can threat the territorial integrity of Ukraine 19% of respondents mentioned Russia, 10% - USA, 4% - China 2% - Romania and 1% - Poland. However 45% of respondents felt that there is no threat, while 19% have not decided on the issue. People in the West are the most concerned about the threat from Russia (46%), primarily they are supporters of Freedom, Batkivshchyna and Front for Change.
Instead, 17% of residents of the Center, 14% of residents of the South and 11% of Donbas residents expect such a threat from the USA; primarily they are supporters of the Party of Regions and Strong Ukraine.
However, almost 60% of respondents from Donbas, from the South and the East believe that there is no threat to the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
43% of respondents expressed their readiness to defend the territorial integrity of Ukraine in arms if there is a threat, 38% - are not ready to do this, 19% - could not answer this question.
55% of men and 34% of women expressed their readiness to defend the territorial integrity of Ukraine in arms if there is a threat. These are primarily middle-aged people with high educational level. According to their political sympathies, they are mostly supporters of Freedom and Strong Ukraine; according to regional belonging, they are dwellers of the Center and Donbas. However, Donbas, as was already mentioned, is the region where external threat is the least expected.
In the West and in the East of Ukraine there are particularly many people who could not answer the question if they are ready to defend their homeland in arms.
The target audience of the research: the population of Ukraine aged from 18 and older. Optional quantity: 2000 respondents. The methods of investigation: personal formalized interview according to the questionnaire (face to face). Measure of inaccuracy for the values close to 50% is less than 3%, for the values close to 30% – less than 2,6%, for the values close to 10% – less than 1,8. The period of completion: 9-16 of September 2010
The oblast’ distribution:
West: Volyns’ka, Transcarpathia, Ivano–Frankivs’ka, L’vivs’ka, Rivnens’ka, Ternopil’s’ka, Chernivets’ka.
Centre: Vinnyts’ka, Kirovograds’ka, Poltavs’ka, Khmel’nyts’ka, Cherkas’ka.
North: Kyiv, Kyivs’ka, Zhytomyrs’ka, Sums’ka, Chernihivs’ka.
South: AR Crimea, Odes’ka, Khersons’ka, Mykolaivs’ka, Sevastopol
East: Dnipropetrovs’ka, Zaporiz’ka, Kharkivs’ka.
Donbass: Donets’ka, Luhans’ka.
