Ukrainians already understand that veterans are people who are young and of working age! How society’s attitude towards veterans has changed in half a year
Image of veteran
In August 2022, 30% of people believed that veterans are those who fought during the Second World War, now 21% believe that veterans are young people. Another 55% are convinced that veterans are middle-aged people. The level of those who considered veterans those who participated in the Second World War decreased to 7%.
This is evidenced by the data of the Rating Group’s sociological survey, conducted on the initiative of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation of the Ministry of Veterans in January.
“We conducted the first sociological survey with the Rating group in August 2022. The most important issues and indicators were recorded in order to effectively develop veteran policies. For half a year, we conducted a number of campaigns and programs. We launched a campaign to create the image of a veteran “Yes, I am a veteran” to show that young people are fighting today. And already in the January survey, significant changes were seen. We are moving away from Soviet narratives,” says Ruslana Velychko-Trifonyuk, acting director. executive director of the Ukrainian Veterans Fund.
The overall percentage of confidence in veterans increased from 92% in August to 93% in January. At the same time, there are minor fluctuations with the “complete trust” indicator. The number of those who “rather trust” has increased. This is a positive dynamic that shows a gradual increase in trust.”
One of the important directions of the UVF’s work is the implementation of the program of the Ministry of Veterans for the financing of veteran businesses. Over the course of six months, the UVF conducted two macro-financing programs (Varto and Varto 2.0), under which veteran entrepreneurs, as well as families of fallen defenders, could receive from 500,000 to one million hryvnias for the development of their own business. A total of 53 contract winners should receive 49 million hryvnias of funding.
“According to the results of this year’s survey, we see that the number of Ukrainians who support the provision of benefits and business support for veterans has increased by 10%. Now 65% of respondents support such a veteran policy, against 55% in August. Working out mechanisms for supporting veteran business at the state level is important already today. Veterans create jobs and reserve places for their brothers in their projects. This is how we are already laying the groundwork for solving problems with the employment of military personnel who will return to civilian life,” says Nataliya Kalmykova, executive director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
Survey dates: January 14-16, 2023. Sample population: 1000 respondents. Survey method: CATI. The error of representativeness of the study with a confidence probability of 0.95: no more than 3.1%.
