The illegal “referendums” Russia has carried out in the occupied territories of Ukraine, parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, have been condemned by Ukraine and its international partners. Half of the locals either fled the occupation or were killed by the Russian war criminals, and those who stayed had been living under repression and terror and voted at gunpoint, so their “opinion” clearly cannot be perceived as valid.
How would the people have voted if the referendums had been held lawfully, though? 2014 surveys say the majority of Ukrainians living in the south and east of the country (even the occupied parts at the time) opposed the idea of Ukraine and Russia becoming one state, as well as the accession of their particular region to Russia. The sociological surveys of 2021-2022, right before the Russian large-scale invasion, show even bigger support for Ukraine’s independence from Russia.
Sociologists agree that the trends of Ukrainians’ increased opposition to Russia that had started long before February 2022 only strengthened after the full-scale aggression. And what is really important: there’s not much regional polarization regarding the issues of the Ukrainian geopolitical course, which were divisive for many years. Now Ukrainians are united more than ever in their vision of independent Ukraine and the inevitability of its victory.
Guests:
- Volodymyr Paniotto, director of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology
- Andriy Bychenko, director of the sociological service at Razumkov centre
- Olexiy Haran, research director, Democratic Initiatives Foundation
UKRAINE IN FLAMES project is created by Ukraine Crisis Media Center and NGO “Euroatlantic Course”. We are aiming at searching a loud support for Ukraine in the war started by Russia on the 24th of February 2022.
If you want to support Ukraine against Russian aggression, check the link with recommendations by Ukraine Crisis Media Center – https://uacrisis.org/en/help-ukraine.
NGO Euroatlantic Course collects donations to support Ukrainian Army and civilians – https://eac.org.ua/en/main-page/.
How you can help Ukraine against Russian aggression:
👉🏻 Come back alive – https://bit.ly/3Ct6O2L (works directly with the command and personnel of military units, purchasing infrared thermal imaging cameras, night vision goggles, hemostatics etc);
👉🏻 CO Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation – https://bit.ly/3Svas1G (purchases supplies for Ukrainian army, such as armor, ammunition, first-aid kits, cars and ATV, humanitarian aid for civilians, and food for animals);
👉🏻 UNITED 24 – https://bit.ly/3M2mXiT (was launched by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the main venue for collecting charitable donations in support of Ukraine. Funds will be transferred to the official accounts of the National Bank of Ukraine and allocated by assigned ministries to cover the most pressing needs)
👉🏻 Army SOS – https://bit.ly/3UYK168 (manages purchases of necessary ammunition, shields, intercommunication and reconnaissance facilities, etc. and delivers all goods directly);
👉🏻 Vostok SOS – https://bit.ly/3Ruut75 (raising funds for various needs of the army);
👉🏻 Phoenix Wings – https://bit.ly/3RvWSd0 (the appropriate equipment & uniform, personal non-lethal protection (vests, helmets), required treatment of the wounded soldiers, and repair of the buildings used by the army).