Respondents were asked why they thought Ukraine was unprepared for an invasion. The respondents could name two options.
The answer option regarding the lack of efforts of the Ukrainian authorities is consistently chosen by Ukrainians surveyed throughout 2025, according to KIIS data.
The second most popular option was “The population itself did not believe in the invasion and did not prepare properly” – 29% in December (in September this figure was 35%, and in February – 32%).
The top three reasons cited most often also included subversive actions in Ukraine by pro-Russian forces and agents of the Russian Federation (18%).
That Ukraine did not do enough to prepare for the invasion is believed by 78% (in September it was 81%), sociologists emphasized.
“The survey results show that among the population there is no clear consensus and vision of the reasons for insufficient preparation for the invasion,” KIIS commented.
The sociological study was conducted from November 26 to December 13 using telephone interviews based on a random sample of mobile numbers in all regions controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. 1 thousand respondents over 18 years old were surveyed. The statistical sampling error does not exceed 4.1%.
Context
The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. Prior to this, since the beginning of 2014, Russian aggression was hybrid.
