Long war ahead? Ukrainians signal growing readiness to keep fighting
Most Ukrainians are ready to endure the war (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBK-Ukraine)
According to KMIS (Kyiv International Institute of Sociology), Ukrainians' willingness to endure a prolonged war increased at the end of spring 2025. Previously, this readiness had been declining.
KMIS regularly asks, "How much longer are you ready to endure the war?" From the beginning of the invasion until May 2024, the situation remained practically unchanged: around 71–73% consistently responded that they were ready to endure the war for as long as necessary (with an additional 2–5% saying they could endure one more year).
Between May and October 2024, sociologists recorded, for the first time, a drop in the proportion of those ready to endure the war "as long as necessary" to 63%. This figure continued to decline, reaching 54% in March 2025.
At the same time, between March and May–early June 2025, the indicator rose again, and currently 60% of Ukrainians state that they are "ready to endure as long as necessary." Another 6% are ready to endure for one year — a relatively long period.
Meanwhile, 20% say they are ready to endure for a shorter period (a few months or half a year), down from 24% in March 2025. The remaining 14% could not determine their answer.
KMIS comment
KMIS comment
As Anton Hrushetskyi, Deputy Director of KMIS, noted, the full-scale invasion has lasted more than three years. The intensity of both direct combat and aerial terror has not only failed to decrease but has intensified. Meanwhile, since the beginning of 2025, the statements and actions of the new US administration have caused surprise and often disapproval among a significant portion of Ukrainians.
"Some might have expected that Ukrainians' resilience could waver under these pressures. However, we watch Ukrainians keep demonstrating extraordinary resilience and maintain their will to resist. Our allies and enemies must be aware that while Ukrainians want peace, they will not agree to capitulation," he added.
The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KMIS) surveyed 1,011 respondents from May 15 to June 3, 2025.
According to KMIS polling data, the United States' pressure on Ukraine has spiked President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's trust rating to 74%.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's Ministry of Finance is preparing an alternative budget scenario that assumes combat operations will continue throughout 2026.
