44% of respondents, surveyed by the Sociological group "Rating" in April 2011, support granting Russian the status of the state language. 47% are against it.
It should be noted that throughout 2009, granting Russian the status of the state language was stably supported by over 50% of citizens, in 2010 the level of support dropped to 46-47% and in 2011 – to 44%. At the same time, the number of opponents of granting Russian the status of the second state language is stably increasing: in 2009 - 40%, in 2010 - 46%, in 2011 - 47-48%.
Interestingly, the number of citizens who haven’t decided on this issue remained almost unchanged (7-8%).
Most support the granting Russian the second state
Residents of Donbas, of the South and the East support granting Russian the status of the state language the most, primarily they are supporters of the Party of Regions and CPU, somewhat less - supporters of Strong Ukraine and UDAR.
In 2010, the formation of the unified state with Belarus and Russia was consistently supported by 44-45% of respondents; it wasn’t supported by the same percentage of citizens. In January 2011 the level of support for the unified state increased to 48%, and in April 2011 - decreased to 47%. Instead, the number of respondents who do not support the formation of a unified state with Russia and Belarus is stably decreasing: in January 2011 - 44%, in April 2011 - 40%. Accordingly the number of people who haven’t decided on this issue increased (from 8 to 13%).
The union with Russia and Belarus is mostly supported by residents of Donbas, of the South and of the East. Interestingly, supporters of the Communist Party support the idea of the unified state with Russia even more than granting Russian the status of the state language. About 70% of voters of the Party of Regions support both the introduction of bilingualism, and the unification of Ukraine with Russia. At the same time, the greatest opponents of these decisions are supporters of Freedom, Front for Change, Civil Position, and Batkivshchyna.
Against this background, there are tendencies towards reduction of public support for European integration as compared to the level of 2009. Thus, in October 2009 Ukraine's accession to the European Union was supported by 51% of respondents, in April 2010 – by 52%, in September 2010 – by 57%, in January 2011 – by 56%, and in April 2011 - only 51% .
About 30% of respondents do not support Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
Interestingly, 37% of respondents who support the formation of the unified state with Russia and Belarus, simultaneously support Ukraine's accession to the EU. Every fourth resident of Donbas, of the South and of the East believes so. The majority of them expect, above all, the improvement of their living standards from the possible integration, and it is not so important whether it will be through integration with one country or all of them. For them, economical factor predominates over ideological.
The higher is the educational level of respondents, the younger they are, the more they support Ukraine's accession to the EU rather than the formation of the unified state with Russia and Belarus and granting Russian the status of the second state language.
People's attitude towards Ukraine’s accession to NATO became worse lately. Thus, in October 2009 Ukraine’s accession to NATO was supported by 22% of respondents, in April 2010 – by 24%, in September 2010 – by 26%, in January 2011 – by 24%, and in April 2011 – by only 22%.
Over 60% of respondents do not support Ukraine's accession to NATO.
Only in the West of the country we can observe a pronounced support of Ukraine’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance (a half of respondents). Among supporters of political parties, the accession to NATO is advocated, above all, by supporters of Freedom, Civil Position and the Front for Change.
In the meantime, the number of supporters of the idea to extend the term of stay of the Russian Black Sea Fleet on the territory of Ukraine until 2042 continues to decrease (from 46% in September 2010 to 42% in January 2011 and to 41% in April 2011). However, the increase in opponents of the idea has stopped (41% in April 2011). As a result, in 2011 the parity was established: the number of supporters of the idea corresponds to the number of its opponents.
On the other hand, the number of citizens, who have not decided on this issue, increased (from 13% in September 2010 to 18% in April 2011).
The idea to extend the term of stay of the Russian Black Sea Fleet on the territory of Ukraine until 2042 is mostly supported in the South of the country (73%), one third less in Donbas (56%) and in the East (52%).
Characteristically, young people aren’t likely to support the extended stay of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine, vice versa, elderly people are rather supportive of the idea.
During the year, the number of citizens who support the initiative of creation of the "gas" consortium, according to which the ownership of the Ukrainian gas transport system is distributed between Russia, EU and Ukraine, has decreased by almost a third - from 36% (March 2010) to 27% (April 2011). The number of opponents of this initiative has increased even more significantly - from 35% to 56%.
The idea is supported by no more than 40% of residents of Donbas, of the South and the East, primarily, supporters of the Communist Party.
During the year, the number of citizens who support the cancellation of President Yushchenko's decree on awarding the Hero of Ukraine to S. Bandera has decreased from 53% in March 2010 to 51% in April 2011. The number of opponents of such a decision, on the contrary, has increased - from 28 to 32%. 18% of respondents have not decided on this issue (March 2010 - 19%).
27% of respondents (72% - in the West) support the idea to recognize OUN-UPA as participants of the struggle for Ukrainian independence, 49% (73% - in the South of the country) do not support this idea. Another quarter have not decided on this issue (the majority - in the Center, in the East and in Donbas).
During the year, the number of citizens who support the idea to recognize OUN-UPA has increased - from 20 to 27%.
The idea to recognize OUN-UPA as participants of the struggle for Ukrainian independence is supported by almost 90% of voters of Freedom, almost a half of voters of the Front for Change, Civil Position, and Batkivshchyna, nearly 40% - voters of UDAR.
58% of surveyed citizens agreed with the statement that Holodomor in 1932-33 was the genocide against Ukrainian people. 29% - did not agree, 13% - have not decided.
We want to turn your attention to fluctuations of public opinion in relation to this matter. In March 2010 - 61% of respondents agreed with the concept of genocide, in January 2011 - their number decreased to 53%, and in April 2011 - again increased to 58%. Thus, the change of governmental course in this matter was reflected in attitudes of citizens; however, over a half of Ukrainians still believe that Holodomor in 1932-33 was the genocide against Ukrainian people.
The thesis of genocide is shared by almost 90% of residents of the West, 70% - of the North and the Center, as well as one half of residents of the East. Even almost 40% of voters of the Party of Regions and 30% of voters of the CPU agreed with this thesis. The number of citizens who do not believe that Holodomor was the genocide has mostly decreased in Donbas (from 49% to 61%), while in the East and in the South – the number remains almost unchanged.
More than a half of respondents (55%) have a positive attitude to the initiative of placing red USSR flags along with state flags on governmental and other institutions of Ukraine on the Victory Day (May 9). 30% of respondents - have a negative attitude, 15% - have not decided on this matter.
Residents of the South of the country (86%) and Donetsk (75%) have responded the most positively to the initiative of red flags. Remember that, according to the research, conducted in December 2010, the South and Donbas regret the dissolution of the Soviet Union the most.
The initiative is mostly supported by voters of the CPU (90%) and the Party of Regions (75%), the least supported - by voters of Freedom (no respondents). Supporters of Batkivshchyna, Front for Change and Civil Position no longer support the initiative of red flags. On the other hand, voters of Strong Ukraine, and UDAR are rather supportive than not.
The higher is the educational level of respondents and the younger they are, the less they support the idea of red flags. Remember that tendencies and attitudes regarding the formation of the unified state with Russia and Belarus are similar.
83% of surveyed Ukrainian citizens are positive about the fact that in 1954, Crimea became a part of the Ukrainian SSR, only 5% have a negative attitude; 12% - have not decided on their attitude.
Residents of Donbas, the Center and the East have the most positive attitude to the annexation of Crimea, residents of the South (primarily in Crimea) – have the most negative attitude. The majority of opponents of the annexation of Crimea to Ukraine are among supporters of the CPU; though even among them almost 70% have a positive attitude.
60% of surveyed citizens believe that Crimea should continue to have the status of Autonomy within Ukraine, 23% - an ordinary region of Ukraine, 2% - Tatar autonomy within Ukraine and only 4% - be separated and transferred to Russia.
Almost 40% of residents of the West believe that Crimea should become an ordinary region. Nevertheless, nearly a quarter of residents of the South support the transfer of Crimea to Russia.
One half of surveyed citizens believe that the best form of government for Ukraine is a unitary state; a quarter believes that the best form of government is federation. Another quarter has not decided on the issue.
The unitary system is mostly supported in the West (69%), in the North (64%) and in the Centre (55%). The federal system - in Donbas (36%) and in the South (36%). Only in Donbas the number of supporters of the federal system prevails over the number of supporters of unitary system. Here is also the biggest number of respondents, who have not decided on the issue.
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 2,2%, for the values close to 30% – less than 2%, for the values close to 10% – less than 1,3. The period of completion: 30 of March - 9 of April 2011
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.
