Majority of Ukrainians believe they will win against Russia - poll

70% of Ukrainians believe in a Ukrainian Armed Forces victory over Russian military forces, and 91% of respondents support the actions of President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Servicemen of the Ukrainian National Guard take positions in central Kyiv, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, February 25, 2022. (photo credit: REUTERS/GLEB GARANICH)
Servicemen of the Ukrainian National Guard take positions in central Kyiv, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, February 25, 2022.
(photo credit: REUTERS/GLEB GARANICH)

Almost three-fourths (70%) of Ukrainians believe that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be victorious over Russian military forces, while 91% of respondents support the actions of President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a poll conducted by the Rating Sociological Group on Sunday.

The group interviewed 2,000 Ukrainians over the age of 18 in all regions except the occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the Crimean peninsula.

While most seem to have an optimistic view on future events, 16% of respondents were unsure of the victory of a Ukrainian army over Russian forces.

Some 15% of respondents remained neutral and could not decide who will win.

Among those who were confident in Ukraine's victory, 47% said they were absolutely sure and 23% were only rather confident.

"The level of faith in our own Armed Forces has increased significantly over the past week," said the social group conducting the poll. "There is no predominance of pessimistic sentiments in any region." 

The highest level of confidence in the Armed Forces is in the west and in the center at 75%-78%, whereas it's lower in the south and east at 64%-66%.

Only 6% of respondents did not support President Zelensky's actions, and 3% did not answer.

While Ukraine enters its fifth day of fighting, civilians suffered major hits to infrastructure and innocents, prompting huge immigration waves to neighboring Slavic countries. Zelensky decided to remain in the capital of Kyiv and met with troops regularly, seen on many occasions wearing a military vest and helmet.

“I need ammunition, not a ride,” Zelensky was quoted responding to a US offer to evacuate him and his family.

The Kyiv Independent reported that across Ukraine, "pessimistic sentiment is low and the level of faith in Ukraine’s armed forces has grown significantly."

There is an extremely high level of support for Zelensky in all regions of Ukraine: over 90% in the West and Center and over 80% in the East and South. Since December 2021, support for the president has tripled.