One in four men and one in three young Ukrainians want to leave Ukraine permanently once the borders reopen, – survey

One in four men and one in three young Ukrainians would like to leave Ukraine permanently after borders reopen.

This is according to a survey conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation.

Among men, 25% expressed a desire to leave Ukraine permanently, while this figure rises to 33% among young Ukrainians aged 18-29.

Among women who are currently able to leave, the percentage wanting to move abroad permanently is lower—17%. The average figure across both genders is 20.7%.

Meanwhile, 70% of respondents stated they do not want to relocate permanently to another country.

The desire to leave is highest among residents of Eastern Ukraine, where active hostilities are ongoing, at 26.5%. However, the figure in Western regions is not much lower—23%.

The most common reasons cited for wanting to leave include:

• “Lack of opportunities for personal development” (30.5%)
• “Threats to life due to ongoing hostilities” (29%)
• “Insufficient social support from the state” (29%)
• “Desire to reunite with family members” (26%)
• “Desire to take dependent family members to safety” (23%)
• “Inability to find a job that meets personal qualifications” (21%)

It is worth noting that, according to a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, trust in all institutions of power among Ukrainians has significantly declined since the start of the full-scale war.

Additionally, over the past year, the number of Ukrainians willing to give up parts of the country’s territory for the sake of peace and maintaining independence has doubled.