Press-release contains the results of the joint project Kyiv International Institute of Sociology and Russian non-governmental research organization of «Levada-Center».

Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) conducted a public opinion poll as a part of regular “Omnibus” during February 8-18, 2014. 2032 respondents were surveyed with face-to-face interviewing method in all regions of Ukraine (including the city of Kyiv and AR Crimea. The sample is random and representative for the Ukrainian population aged 18 years and older. Statistical sample error does not exceed 2.2% (excluding design-effect).

Levada-Center conducted the survey basing on the sample representative for Russia, during February 21-25, 2014. 1603 respondents aged 18 years and older were surveyed in 130 settlements in 45 regions of the country. Statistical sample error does not exceed 3.4%.

Our survey is about the attitude of the Ukrainian and Russian population towards the protests that occurred in Ukraine during January-February 2014.

«What is the reason for people to go to protests in Kyiv downtown?»

•      The main reason for the majority of people to participate in protests is outrage with the corrupted regime of Yanukovych (the highest level in the West – 68%, the lowest on the East – 20%). Almost a third of respondents (30%) also indicate three other reasons such as the West influence, that aims to include Ukraine in its sphere of political interests (people’s thoughts differ by regions significantly: 57% and 44% believe in that in the East and in the South, respectively while only 17% and 5% think in such a way in the Centre and in the West); the third place of most popular reasons to protest goes to four reasons simultaneously each named by almost a quarter of respondents:aim to make Ukraine a civilized country just like Europe countries are  (27%), protest against tough actions of "Berkut"/internal troops (26%),nationalistic moods (26%) andfeeling of the civic dignity that does not accept arbitrary power (25%).  (Differences are not statistically significant)
•       Russians indicate three main reasons that as they think lead people to protests in Kyiv: Western influence, – 43%, nationalistic moods – 31% and outrage with the corrupted regime of Yanukovych – 17%.   
•       Both Ukrainians and Russians think that the least important reason is the relief of Ukraine from economic and political dictate of Russia, to become independent - this reason is indicated by 12% of respondents as in Ukraine as in Russia.

«On your opinion, who is responsible for the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine first of all?»

•       Both in Ukraine and in Russia the responsibility for the escalation of the conflict rely on authorities led by Viktor Yanukovych. This is indicated by 49% in Ukraine (much more often in the West – 80%, the least often in the East – 23%) and 44% in Russia.
•       The second place among responsible for the escalation of the conflict goes to the authorities of the Western states, as respondents in Russia think (36%), while only 18% of respondents in Ukraine share this opinion.
•       Almost similar share of Ukrainian and Russians consider the opposition to be responsible (33% and 34% respectively). But answers differ in Ukraine by region – such opinion is shared the least in the West (10%), the most in the East (68%)
•       The Russian authorities are seen as the least responsible for the escalation of the conflict. It is believed by 7% of respondents in Ukraine and – 4% respondents in Russia.

«Whom do you support right now in the conflict in Ukraine?»

•             32% of respondents in Ukraine do not sympathize to any side of the conflict. The majority of Russians demonstrate neutral attitude – 63% support none of the sides.
•             More people among the Ukrainians are on the side of protesters (40%), rather than on the side of authorities led by Yanukovych (23%),  while in Russia it is vice versa – slightly higher share of respondents support Ukrainian authorities (14%), rather than protesters (9% of respondents).

Attitude towards events in Ukraine significantly depends on the region of residence and all other socio-demographic characteristics of the population

Demographic and regional differences in the attitude towards the protesters and authorities in Ukraine

By the regional distribution[1]:

•       The majority of those who sympathize to the protesters is concentrated in the Western (80%) and Central regions (51%), and 20% of the Southern region also sympathize to protesters. The least support to protesters is in the East (8%), that is 10 times less than in the West.
•       The majority of those who support authorities led by Viktor Yanukovych is concentrated in the Eastern region (52%), significantly less support is observed in the Southern region (32%). The least support to authorities led by Yanukovych is demonstrated by respondents in the Western (3%) and Central regions (11%).
•       The highest amount of Ukrainians with neutral attitudes lives in the South (42%) and East (39%), and there is a big share of them in the Central region (33%). The least neutral are people in the Western region (13%).

There is no significant difference by sex:

•       Women support authorities led by Yanukovych slightly more (26%) than men do (20%)
•       In contrary, men support protesters slightly more (43%) than women (38%)

Age difference is as follows: support of authorities is higher and support of protesters is lower with the age increase

•       26% of Ukrainians aged 50-59 years support Yanukovych’s  government; there are 28% of such people among those aged 60-69, and 38% among those aged 70 years and older;
•       The youth and people of the middle age support protesters: those aged 18-29 years – 44%, 30-39 – 42%, 40-49 – 43%. However, it should be noted that other age groups also demonstrate considerable support to protesters, which exceed 30%

•       people with higher education tend to support protesters rather than authorities (45% comparing to 17%),  the difference is the smallest among people with basic education (33% comparing to 29%).

Appendix

What is the reason for people to go to protests in Kyiv downtown?

Ukraine – by regions:

On your opinion, who is responsible for the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine first of all?

Ukraine – by regions:

Whom do you support right now in the conflict in Ukraine?

Ukraine – by regions:

Ukraine – by sex:

Ukraine – by age:

Ukraine – by education level: