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

Nearly four years of full-scale war have had a profound impact on Ukrainian society. At the same time, certain trends remain stable: amid rising stress levels, Ukrainians continue to demonstrate high trust in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a clear understanding that achieving a sustainable peace matters more than a rapid but fragile cessation of hostilities. These conclusions are presented in the thirteenth wave of the “On a Big Move” survey conducted by the research company Gradus. The survey focused on expectations regarding the end of the war and its consequences, the emotional state of Ukrainians, and trust in key institutions.

Ukrainians Trust the Armed Forces and Allied Support

The Armed Forces of Ukraine retain the highest level of trust among respondents. More than half consider the army the most reliable institution in the country (52%) and the main guarantor of victory in the war (54%). Trust in volunteer organizations (23%) and the President of Ukraine (21%) remains significantly lower but stable.

Among the factors bringing victory closer, Ukrainians also cite military assistance from Western countries (53%), tougher sanctions against Russia (44%), and social cohesion and resistance (43%).

Awareness of a Prolonged War and the Country’s Potential

Expectations regarding the duration of the war have not changed significantly over the past year. Only 27% of respondents hope that active hostilities will end by the end of next year, while 32% believe that the active phase will last for several more years.

In scenarios for ending the war, the aspiration for long-term peace prevails. A majority of respondents (59%) consider the optimal option to be not a rapid cessation of hostilities, but the end of the active phase with guarantees that the war will not resume in the coming decades. Only 19% favor a quick end without such guarantees, while 23% remain undecided.

Assessing the possible consequences of the war, 42% of Ukrainians believe the country will emerge stronger than before. At the same time, 32% think that a prolonged military conflict will weaken the state, and 11% expect the situation to remain largely unchanged.

Unity and Language Identity as a Personal Choice

Language is named by Ukrainians as an important component of personal identity and social unity. Data from Gradus’s systematic research show a sustained shift in language practices. In April 2022, 53% of respondents used Ukrainian in everyday life; by December 2025, this figure had risen substantially, with 73% reporting that they communicate in Ukrainian on a daily basis.

Alongside these transformations, an increase in stress levels is also recorded. In the pre-war period (November 2021–February 2022), 78–79% of Ukrainians reported high stress levels; today this figure has reached a record 91%.

Among the emotions dominating respondents’ moods, fatigue, tension, irritation, and disappointment are mentioned most frequently. Hope ranks only fifth among emotional states, further underscoring the depth of the psychological burden faced by society in the fourth year of the war.

“The thirteenth wave of the study shows that Ukrainian society is entering a phase of more rational and mature perception of the war. Expectations of quick solutions are giving way to a demand for long-term security and predictability. The high level of trust in the Armed Forces and the growing role of the Ukrainian language in everyday life point to consolidation and the formation of a resilient civic identity. At the same time, people are increasingly aware of the cost of the war and the need for systemic solutions,” notes Yevheniia Blyznyuk, sociologist, founder and CEO of Gradus.

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

Within the “On a Big Move” project, the research company Gradus has conducted thirteen waves of research on Ukrainians’ sentiments 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; Wave X — June 17–21, 2024; Wave XI — December 23–25, 2024; Wave XII — May 16–18, 2025; Wave XIII — December 4, 2025. The survey was conducted by Gradus using a self-administered questionnaire in the Gradus mobile application. The sample reflects the population structure of cities with more than 50,000 residents aged 18–60 by gender, age, size of settlement, and region, excluding temporarily occupied territories and areas of active hostilities. Sample size in the thirteenth wave: 1,000 respondents.