Most Ukrainians have relatives or friends injured or killed in Russian invasion of Ukraine

The vast majority of Ukrainians (78%) have close relatives or friends who have been injured or killed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Source: results of a sociological survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on 26 May – 5 June 2023

Details: The average number of those with such close relatives or friends (the median value was used) was 7. Therefore, these respondents have seven close relatives or friends who were injured or killed on average.

Meanwhile, 64% of Ukrainians have at least one close relative or friend who was wounded (they have 5 injured close people on average), and 63% have at least one close relative or friend who was killed (they have 3 killed close people on average).

Median number among those who have:

• Yes
• No
• Hard to say

• Сlose relatives or friends who were injured
• Close relatives or friends who were killed
• Сlose relatives or friends who were injured or killed

Commenting on the survey results, KIIS Executive Director Anton Hrushetskyi said that Russia's war against Ukraine had shaped a tragic collective experience for the vast majority of Ukrainians. Most citizens in all parts of Ukraine have relatives or friends who were injured or killed in the Russian invasion.

Both people in the country’s west and the east face the same terrible losses caused by Russia.

Quote: "We can talk about the pain of Ukrainians over their losses and their fierce anger at the enemy.

The intense emotional impact of this experience is a factor that, on the one hand, brings many Ukrainians together and gives them a better understanding of each other. On the other hand, it helps to unite Ukrainians to work together to expel the enemy and achieve justice – punishment [for the Russian invaders] for the crimes committed

This background makes it clear why Russian propaganda regarding 'common history' / 'common culture' is so futile in Ukraine. ...The current emotions have been imprinting the "away from Moscow" motto for a long time. Moreover, this experience adds resilience and uncompromisingness to possible concessions to Russia because if you have so many relatives and friends who have been injured or killed, how can you talk about concessions?"

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