What is the mood in Ukraine after three years of conflict? A well-known sociologist from Kiev explains

"Is Ukraine Heading for Authoritarianism? Many Ukrainians Think So

The latest poll shows how deeply divided is Ukrainian society. Discontent is growing, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Finds Himself in an Extremely Difficult Situation.

 

“Is Ukraine heading more towards greater democracy or towards the development of authoritarianism? This question was asked to Ukrainians. The results of the survey are surprising and show how many Ukrainians believe that the future of democracy in the country is in doubt.

 

The latest survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KMIS) shows that 50% of Ukrainians believe that the country is strengthening its democracy and is heading towards even greater democratization.

 

Meanwhile, 41% of respondents think completely differently. They claim that the state of democracy in the country is deteriorating and Ukraine is heading towards authoritarianism. In turn, 9% of respondents were unable to answer this question.

 

Sceptics provide several key reasons that, in their opinion, are leading Ukraine to authoritarianism. The most common of them (18) percent) indicates a restriction of freedom of speech and pressure on the media. They complain about corruption, the activities of military reinforcements (leading mobilization to the front), but also about the fact that all power in the country is concentrated in the hands of the president and his entourage.

 

Among Ukrainians who talk about authoritarianism, there are significantly more supporters of territorial concessions to Russia than among those who do not complain about the state of democracy. There is no agreement on this among both supporters and critics of the current political situation on the Dnieper.

Is Volodymyr Zelensky leading the country towards authoritarianism? Vitali Klitschko believes so

 

The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, spoke about the fact that Ukraine is heading towards authoritarianism in an interview with the Swiss portal 20 Minuten back in December 2023. - I once said that there is a smell of authoritarianism in our country. Now stinks – Vitali Klitschko repeated recently, quoted by The Times.

 

 Since the outbreak of the conflict with Russia, he has repeatedly accused the president of trying to take control of local governments in Ukrainian cities, which were placed under the management of military administrations during martial law.

 

– The authorities have partially taken control of the media. We also have examples of the president using his power against political opponents. For example, sanctions were introduced against former president Petro Poroshenko and other Ukrainian citizens who are in the country without the participation of the justice system. Pressure is on local governments, the mayors of Chernihiv and Rivne have been removed. Pressure is also being exerted on the parliament – ​​Oleksiy Honcharenko, a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine from the opposition European Solidarity (headed by Poroshenko), tells “Rzeczpospolita”.

 

We are a democratic state, but the dynamics, unfortunately, are clear. We are heading towards authoritarianism.

 

– We are a democratic state, but the dynamics, unfortunately, are clear. We are heading towards authoritarianism – he adds. He admits that the conflict with Russia and martial law “are not the best time for democracy”. – There are also objective reasons, because in conflict conditions the president and the government have additional powers. On the other hand, all power fell into the hands of President Zelensky much earlier, after his party won the majority of seats in parliament – ​​he points out.

 

"A leading Ukrainian sociologist and head of the KMIS center Volodymyr Paniotto claims that the poll result is influenced by “conflict fatigue”. – After the unsuccessful counteroffensive at the end of 2023, it was already known that the conflict would last a long time. Since then, political life has resumed in Ukraine and the opposition has become active, especially after the peace talks began – Paniotto tells “Rzeczpospolita”.

 

Volodymyr Paniotto, Ukrainian sociologist, head of the KMIS center admits that research shows that a large part of Ukrainians are dissatisfied with the current situation in the country.” [1]

 

During military control in Ukraine many people are afraid of expressing how unhappy they are with Zelensky. So the number of his real supporters in society is not known. We know that opinion polls show that a big part are unhappy with Zelensky and not afraid to say it.