Half of Ukrainians say the country is moving in the wrong direction – survey findings
Source: Razumkov Center
A recent survey by the Razumkov Center reveals that 48% of Ukrainians believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, while 1 in 3 of respondents (33.4%) still think it is on the right track.
The survey findings reflect mixed confidence in the country’s future. While 30% of Ukrainians believe the nation’s current challenges can be overcome in the near future, 46% of people say it will take more time, while 11% doubt Ukraine’s ability to resolve these issues.
By contrast, 83% of respondents remain confident that Ukraine’s victory in the war, though 11% do not share this optimism. When it comes to the time frame of such victory, 39% expect it will happen in 1–2 years, 19.5% believe it will be enjoyed by the end of this year, and 15% predict it taking 3 to 5 years. A smaller portion—5% – thing the war can last more than 5 years, with 2% express doubt that victory will occur within their lifetime.
The war saw trust in political parties eroding as only 27% of respondents believe there will be worthy politicians who can lead the country in the post-war period. Meanwhile, only 28% of Ukrainians welcome the idea of national elections (presidential or parliamentary) before the war is over, while 56% are opposed to the idea.
In 2025, the deadliest year yet for civilians, Ukraine’s three largest charitable foundations raised a record 105.9 billion hryvnias. It is more than the years 2022–2024 combined. According to the UN, humanitarian aid in Ukraine was delivered by more than 450 organisations, reaching five million people over the course of the year. Civic foundations hold licences to purchase lethal weapons, which is a function states have monopolised for centuries. These record sums were underwritten by international government grants, which means foreign states now channel billions directly through Ukrainian civic funds, bypassing inter-state channels. It is hard to imagine a stronger institutional trust in civil society.
During the GLOBSEC Defence Forum 2026 in Prague, representatives of “Steel Front”, an initiative by Rinat Akhmetov, discussed with NATO delegations, military officials, and representatives of the European defense industry the lessons learned from Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
After the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine witnessed an unprecedented wave of private support for the army. Citizens, big businesses, charitable foundations, and international philanthropists began financing the country’s defense alongside state assistance provided by international partners. Estimates of total private contributions range from tens to hundreds of billions of hryvnias. However, determining the exact amount remains difficult. In many cases, companies combine military aid, humanitarian programs, tax payments, social spending, and employee support in their reporting.
Rinat Akhmetov’s military initiative, “Steel Front”, has delivered a batch of drones worth UAH 214 million to the 1st “Azov” Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. This shipment is part of the Metinvest Group’s ongoing support for the unit in 2025.
On October 6, the Administrative Cassation Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine continued hearing case No. 990/80/25, in which the fifth President and leader of the party “European Solidarity”, Petro Poroshenko, seeks to have Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 from February 12, 2025 — enacting sanctions by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) — declared illegal and annulled. The plaintiff claims the document was falsified and that the sanctions are a tool of political persecution of the opposition, contrary to international norms. Government representatives deny the allegations and insist their actions were lawful. Journalists of Bukvy were present at the hearing.