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Gradus Research has conducted a new ninth wave of its Wartime Survey of Ukrainian Society as part of the "On a Big Move" project to track the dynamics of changes since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

At the end of 2023, Gradus Research asked Ukrainians how they see the timeline for Ukraine's recovery, whether they are currently working, what language they speak in everyday life, and what emotions they have experienced most recently, and tracked the changes that have taken place compared to previous waves of the survey.

The employment rate of Ukrainians has almost tripled since the beginning of the full-scale invasion

The share of employed Ukrainians who work full or part-time is now 62%, compared to 24% in March 2022. Unemployed remain 28% of respondents, and 8% have a job but are not working.

At the same time, the number of respondents who receive a salary and are confident that they will receive it in the future has increased — for the first time since the beginning of the war, their share is more than half (55%), while in March 2022 it was 21%.

Ukrainians are increasingly speaking Ukrainian in everyday life

The share of Ukrainians who speak Ukrainian in everyday life is growing and currently stands at 65%. For comparison: in April 2022, about half of respondents (53%) spoke the state language in everyday life, and a year later (April 2023), their number increased to 61%.

More than a third of respondents believe that it will take more than five years to restore normal life after the war

37% of respondents in the last wave of the survey indicated this — in April 2023, their share was 31%.

In turn, 12% of respondents predict a period of up to a year to recover, 11% — 1-2 years, and 19% — up to 5 years.

Ukrainians are increasingly tired

The majority of respondents (55%) say that fatigue has been prevalent in their lives lately — during the previous wave of the survey in April 2023, 50% of respondents declared this condition.

Other most common states of respondents include tension (43%), irritation (32%), powerlessness (31%), frustration (29%), caution (28%), fear (28%), and anger (25%).

"The results of the latest wave of the survey demonstrate that Ukrainians are increasingly feeling tired and powerless due to the uncertainty and volatility of the war. But despite this emotional stress, they are actively returning to work and making plans for the future. In addition, Ukrainians are increasingly speaking Ukrainian in everyday life, which indicates a strengthening of national consciousness and cohesion," said Evgeniya Blyznyuk, sociologist, CEO&Founder of Gradus Research.

The survey report is available for download via the form below.

As part of the "On a Big Move. Wartime Survey" project, Gradus Research conducted nine waves of survey on the attitudes of Ukrainians during the war: wave I — February 28-March 1, 2022; wave II — March 8, 2022; wave III — March 28, 2022; wave IV — April 20, 2022; wave V — May 23, 2022; wave VI — July 28-30, 2022; wave VII — December 27-30, 2022; wave VIII — April 24-25, 2023; wave IX — December 20-23, 2023. In the ninth wave, 1330 respondents filled out the questionnaire in a special mobile application. The Gradus online panel displays the population structure of cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants aged 18-60 by gender, age, settlement size, and region.