The full-scale Russian invasion caused a powerful surge of mechanical solidarity among Ukrainians. However, such a crisis-driven unity might be short-lived. Civil Network OPORA conducted a nationwide study on the social cohesion of Ukrainians and prepared quantitative and qualitative reports, as well as an analysis of how cohesion is reflected in social networks.
In this study, cohesion is defined as the ability of society to ensure the well-being of all its members by minimizing inequality and avoiding polarization, as well as by forming communities of free individuals who support each other.
The study findings indicate that the level of cohesion has been strengthened by a shared identity and horizontal solidarity in the face of an existential threat. This is evidenced by a predominant sense of pride in being Ukrainian, a strong attachment to the nation, and a high level of mutual assistance. At the same time, most respondents tend to distrust (or trust less) each other, the media they consume, and government bodies. Despite a high level of interest in politics, mutual assistance at the horizontal level and a sense of attachment to one's community do not translate into civic participation.
OPORA analysts identified four analytical dimensions of socio-political life: economic, social, political, and media.
70.5% of respondents in Ukraine and 80.3% abroad are interested in politics. However, only 10.9% in Ukraine and 14.2% abroad feel capable of participating in political life. Only 7.6% in Ukraine and 10.4% abroad believe that the system allows “people like them” to influence the government. The majority of respondents always or usually vote in elections.
Furthermore, 29.3% of Ukrainians believe they would not be able to meet their basic needs—housing, food, medicine—if they lost their income. Women consider themselves particularly vulnerable: over a third of female respondents (35.4%) in Ukraine stated they would not be able to provide for themselves at all without income. This figure is significantly lower for men. Over 42% of respondents with disabilities replied that they would not be able to provide for themselves at all if they lost their main source of income.
Only a third of Ukrainians (35.4% of those surveyed in Ukraine) responded that they could live off their own savings, and almost as many—thanks to the support of relatives or friends. At the same time, a quarter of Ukrainians noted that they rely on products from their own household—gardening and horticulture are becoming real survival strategies in wartime conditions.
Most often, respondents get their news from Ukrainian media pages on social networks and messengers (46.7%). Bloggers are the second most popular source of information (30-32%), especially among men and people with higher education. Traditional media have limited influence. Ukrainians abroad more often rely on information from relatives and friends. At the same time, only half of respondents in Ukraine (49.4%) and 58.8% abroad generally trust the news they consume. Less than 10% fully trust the news. A third in Ukraine and a quarter abroad express distrust in the news.
According to Anastasiia Romaniuk, an analyst at the Civil Network OPORA, the survey didn't delve into individuals' actual situations within each dimension. Instead, it focused on people's perceptions of themselves in relation to these dimensions.
"Feelings of vulnerability and insecurity, as well as a short planning horizon for the future, influence the life decisions people make given current circumstances," Romaniuk explained. "Therefore, in this study, we don't assess, for example, a person's actual economic situation, but only how they perceive it—whether they feel the investigated barriers and difficulties to participating in socio-political life. Addressing the problems identified will be critically important for the transition from wartime unity to a deeply integrated, resilient, and just post-war society."
To investigate the social cohesion of Ukrainian society, a nationwide survey was conducted among the adult population over 18 years of age residing in Ukraine (2,050 respondents, excluding occupied territories) and Ukrainians who moved to European Union countries after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion (411 respondents). The survey was carried out using the CATI-CAWI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interview, Computer Assisted Web Interview) method. It involved random selection of respondents by phone number, followed by an invitation to complete an online questionnaire between April 1 and 5, 2025. Analysts of Civil Network OPORA developed the analytical framework and interpreted the results of the study, while the Rating Sociological Group conducted the fieldwork for the survey.
Full text of the study:
https://oporaua.org/en/viyna/social-cohesion-in-ukrainian-society-quantitative-study-25738