Poll: 77% of Ukrainians ready to keep fighting even if Russia targets energy grid this winter

A new sociological survey shows that 77% of Ukrainians believe the country should continue armed resistance against Russia even if Russian forces strike energy infrastructure this winter, leaving people without electricity, heating and sewage services. The data comes from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

Another 12% of respondents said that under such conditions Ukraine would have to accept any Russian demands, even if this effectively amounted to capitulation. The remaining 11% were unable to give a clear answer.

Unity across regions, but resolve fading over time

Readiness to keep fighting is shared by residents of all regions of the country. Support for resistance is highest among Kyiv residents, where it reaches 83%. In eastern Ukraine, 68% of those surveyed backed continuing the fight.

By comparison, in October 2022 — eight months after the invasion began — 86% of respondents favoured continuing the armed struggle even amid ongoing shelling, while only 10% believed it was necessary to sit down at the negotiating table as soon as possible to secure a ceasefire.

Trust in Zelensky shapes public mood

The institute also examined how attitudes toward continuing the war relate to trust in President Volodymyr Zelensky. Among those who do not trust him, 65% supported continuing the defence, a fifth were ready to give in to Russian demands, and 15% were undecided.

Among those who do trust Zelensky, the picture is different: 89% are ready to keep fighting, only 5% would accept peace on Russian terms, and 6% found it hard to answer.

Differences also emerge based on military experience. Among veterans of the Ukrainian army, 85% insist on continuing hostilities, while 13% are open to negotiations with Russia. Among those who have not served, 77% backed resistance, 12% favoured peace on any terms, and 11% remained undecided.

The survey was conducted by telephone (CATI method) by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. It involved 1,003 people over the age of 18 living in Ukraine at the time of the poll. According to the institute, the standard margin of error does not exceed 4.1% for indicators around 50%, 3.5% for indicators around 25%, 2.5% for indicators around 10%, and 1.8% for indicators around 5%. Under wartime conditions, an additional systemic deviation linked to war-related factors should be added to this margin.

Source: novinky.cz