Changing perception of relationships, sex, and Valentine’s Day

On the eve of Valentine’s Day, Gradus presented the second wave of a study conducted in February 2026. The results show that despite prolonged stress due to living in conditions of armed conflict and Russian attacks on infrastructure, romantic relationships remain an important component for the majority of Ukrainians. At the same time, their dynamics, forms of intimacy, and plans for celebration are changing.

Established relationships have become stronger

As of February 2026, 85% of respondents are in a romantic relationship. The lowest indicator is among youth aged 18–24 (75%), while in older age groups, it exceeds 80%. This may indicate more difficult conditions for forming new relationships at a younger age due to migration, instability, and shifting life priorities.

57% of respondents noted that the war has strengthened their relationships, which points to the growing role of partnership as a source of support in conditions of prolonged crisis. At the same time, 74% of respondents reported that their partner is physically present, while 32% have experienced a long forced separation, and another 29% — a short-term one.

How has the war influenced romantic relationships?

New relationships are harder to form

Among those who are not currently in a romantic relationship, the most common answer is that their last relationship ended 2–4 years ago (32%), while another 25% broke up within the last year. Almost half of this group believes that the war has complicated the possibility of meeting people and building new relationships — primarily due to general instability, psychological exhaustion, and limited social contacts. Only 6% noted a positive impact of the war on their romantic life.

When were you last in a romantic relationship?

A third of respondents note that there is less sex

72% of Ukrainians agree that during the war, love provides a sense of support, and for 55%, it has accelerated important decisions in relationships, particularly regarding living together, marriage, and planning for the future. At the same time, 34% of respondents noted that physical intimacy has decreased. This may be a consequence of increased stress levels, living in a mode of constant anxiety, and the forced separation of partners.

How much do you agree/how important is it to you…

It is telling that today Ukrainians define the quality of relationships primarily through the emotional component. More than 90% of respondents name emotional intimacy, a sense of security, and caring for one another as key. Against this backdrop, physical intimacy plays a less defining role: 65% of respondents consider it important (72% among men and 59% among women). Such a distribution of responses indicates the great importance of partnership — from its physical dimension to emotional support, psychological stability, and a sense of protection in conditions of prolonged uncertainty.

Valentine’s Day: more people are celebrating, but giving fewer gifts

In February 2026, 40% of Ukrainians plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day — this is more than in the pre-war year of 2020 (34%). Growing interest in symbolic dates may indicate a need for emotional stability and “anchors of normalcy” during the war. Men plan celebrations more often (43% versus 36% among women), and the most active group is youth aged 18–34, over half of whom consider February 14 a romantic occasion.

Plans to celebrate Valentine’s Day

At the same time, 55% of respondents plan to give gifts, which is significantly less than in 2020 (80%). This reflects more restrained consumption and a reorientation toward non-material expressions of care.

Top gifts planned include tasty food and wine, flowers, shared time together, confessions of love, or a romantic dinner. Among material options, cosmetics and perfumes, clothing and lingerie, and jewelry lead. Among youth aged 18–24, the most popular gifts are “myself,” valentines, and electronics, while in the older age group, almost half (49%) prefer tasty food and wine as a form of shared time and simple pleasure.

An analysis of plans and expectations regarding Valentine’s Day gifts shows that there is no significant imbalance between what Ukrainians plan to give and what they would like to receive, which points to realistic mutual expectations in relationships. At the same time, emotional gestures are planned to be given slightly more often than expected to be received. This underscores a readiness to take the initiative in caring for a partner. Material gifts show an even more balanced picture, indicating a lack of inflated expectations and a pragmatic approach to celebrating during the war.

Plans and expectations regarding gifts

We see that over four years of full-scale war, love for Ukrainians has transformed from a romantic experience into a form of psychological resilience. Relationships today are not so much about the emotions of the moment as they are about a sense of security, support, and shared responsibility for the future. At the same time, the reverse side is also noticeable — the war complicates the formation of new connections and reduces the desire for physical intimacy. This indicates a deep restructuring of the perception of partnership: Ukrainians value presence and care more than demonstrative gestures, and even celebrations become a way of restoring a sense of normalcy,

— comments Evheniya Blyznyuk, sociologist, founder and CEO of Gradus Research.

The study was conducted by the research company Gradus using the self-administered questionnaire method in the Gradus mobile application. Target audience: men and women aged 18–60 living in cities of Ukraine with a population of over 50,000, excluding temporarily occupied territories and zones of active hostilities. Period of the second wave — February 06, 2026. Sample size: 1000 respondents.