The survey was conducted by the Razumkov Centre’s sociological service at the border crossing points in Ukraine’s Zakarpatia region (Uzhgorod, Malyi Bereznyi and Chop (Tisa). 101 citizens of Ukraine aged 16+ who were leaving Ukraine on foot or by road due to hostilities were interviewed from 15 March through 1 April 2022.

A portrait of a Ukrainian refugee

The vast majority of refugees (83%) are women, with men making up 17% respectively. By age, people of 30 to 39 years make the largest group of respondents (37%), followed by those aged 40 to 49 (26%), 16 to 29(19%), 60+ (11%) and those aged 50 to 59 years (8%).

76% of respondents are people with higher or incomplete higher education, 18% have secondary special education, and only 6% have general secondary education.

The most represented social groups among those interviewed include highly qualified specialists (26%), entrepreneurs (20%) and skilled workers (17%).

More than half of those who travel abroad due to hostilities are residents of Ukraine’s East and South (51.5%),with the Kharkiv oblast being the most represented eastern region (19%). 45% of respondents are residents of central regions (including 31% from the city of Kyiv and the Kyiv region), and only 4% come from western regions.

63% of refugees reported speaking mostly Russian at home, 31% spoke Ukrainian, and 3% used other language. However, 65% of respondents consider Ukrainian their mother tongue; for 22% it is Russian, and 4% have another language as their mother tongue.

63% of refugees cross the border with children, 21% with parents (their own or of their spouse), 17% travel with a spouse, 4% with grandchildren, 14% with other family members, 7% with friends or acquaintances, and 13% travel alone.

55% of respondents said that at the time of their departure there was fighting in the community where they lived; 13% reported fighting nearby; and 10% told that there was no fighting, but their settlement was bombed or shelled. 14% of respondents told that neighbouring communities were bombed or shelled and only 8% stated that none of the above happened in or around their places of residence.

When asked whether they had received any assistance since the beginning of the war, 53.5% said they received help from volunteer organisations; 45% received assistance from ordinary people who they did not know before; 41% received support from relatives, acquaintances and friends. 27% received help from government agencies; 9% — from religious organisations, 7% — from businesses, private entrepreneurs (including at work); 2% — from foreign foundations, institutions, embassies and consulates of other countries. 21% of respondents reported receiving no assistance at all.

Refugees’ attitudes and assessments

When asked to assess one’s own psychological state on 24 February (the first day of the war) on a scale from 0 to 10, where “0” means “maximum level of calmness and confidence” and “10” means “maximum level of panic, fear and insecurity”, respondents rated it at average 6.7 points (scores by 52% of respondents range from 8 to 10, which corresponds to a high level of panic, fear, insecurity).

While assessing their psychological state at the time of the survey, respondents rated it at 5.7 points. At that point, the share of those who rated their psychological state from 8 to 10 decreased from 52% at the beginning of the war to 22%.

89% of respondents believe that Ukraine will win this war, and only 1% have the opposite opinion (10% find it hard to answer this question). 79% of respondents plan to return to Ukraine after the war, and 10% do not have such plans. 11% could not answer.

78% of respondents are positive about the actions of Ukraine’s state leadership during the Russian aggression, and only 2% treat them negatively. 20% could not answer.

35% of respondents consider the assistance of the international community to Ukraine sufficient; for 43%, this assistance is insufficient. 23% remained undecided on the answer.

SURVEY RESULTS IN TABLES

(data in percentage)

Respondents’ gender: 

What language do you mostly speak at home? ONE ANSWER

What language do you consider your mother tongue? 

At the time of your departure, was there fighting in the place you lived in? ONE ANSWER

Have you received any help since the beginning of the war on 24 February? (all suitable options)

How do you assess the actions of Ukraine’s state leadership during the Russian aggression?

Do you believe that Ukraine will win this war?

Do you consider the international community’s assistance to Ukraine sufficient?

Do you plan to return to Ukraine after the war is over?

On a scale from 0 to 10, where “0” means “maximum level of calmness and confidence” and “10” means “maximum level of panic, fear and insecurity”, please rate your psychological state on 24 February (the first day of the war)

Average score — 6.7 points

On a scale from 0 to 10, where “0” means “maximum level of calmness and confidence” and “10” means “maximum level of panic, fear and insecurity”, please rate your current psychological state (when you cross the border)

Average score — 5.7 points