72% of Ukrainians have acquaintances who are avoiding mobilization – survey

72% of Ukrainians have acquaintances trying to avoid conscription, which Ukrainian authorities recently tightened.

These are the results of a survey conducted by the “Democratic Initiatives” Foundation and the Razumkov Center from March 21 to 27.

“Defining the reaction of close friends and acquaintances to the conscription process, respondents note the problem of evasion from this process. In particular, 25% of those surveyed noted that the majority of those in their circle are trying to avoid conscription, while 47% indicated that some acquaintances are avoiding it, while others are willing to be conscripted. Considering that in the latter group of respondents, some acquaintances are willing to be conscripted, it can be said that the readiness for conscription is not at a low, but at a medium level,” the press release about the research said.

Only 10% of survey participants stated that their acquaintances are mainly willing to join the army.

The desire to avoid conscription is more common in the eastern region. Here, 39% of respondents indicated that the majority of their acquaintances subject to conscription are trying to avoid it, while in the southern region, this proportion is 32%, and in the western region, it is 29%. It was the lowest (15%) in the central region.

At the same time, a high degree of readiness to join the conscription was noted by approximately the same proportion of respondents in the east, south, and west (5–9%), and slightly more (15%) in the central region.

A recent survey by “Suspilne” showed that 63% of Ukrainian men of conscription age do not want to join the army.