Assessment of the COVID-19 threat in Ukraine

Ipsos first studied the attitude of Ukrainians to the threat of coronavirus in the first wave of the global study Global Advisor in Ukraine in March - April this year. At that time, quarantine restrictions were already implemented throughout the country. Even then, it was clear that despite the serious restrictions imposed by the government and the information coverage of the COVID-19 threat, Ukrainians did not consider it to be the biggest problem. The main problem was corruption, financial or political scandals (60% of all respondents); on the second place was unemployment (48%); on the third health care (45%). Coronavirus (31%), in turn, took 5th place, after the problem of poverty and inequality (38%).
At the same time, if we look at the situation in the world (average for 29 countries participating in the study), we would see that Ukraine strongly differs from other countries - in the world COVID-19 was recognized as the biggest problem (61%). %). In almost all countries that participated in the study, coronavirus was considered as the main problem more often than in Ukraine, except in countries such as Russia (27%) and China (24%).
A new survey conducted by Global Advisor in June-July this year shows that the situation has changed. In general, there is a trend around the world that shows a decrease in the importance of the COVID-19 pandemic in the eyes of citizens - 42% (average for 29 countries). A fall of 19% led to the fact that the next problem for the world - unemployment (40%), almost caught up with the coronavirus. In Ukraine, we also see that COVID-19 also lost its position - 19%. In general, the most important problems in Ukraine remain corruption (62%), unemployment (55%), poverty and inequality (38%), health care (31%) and crime (20%).
It is noticeable that Ukraine is different in this case comparing to the world, as its coronavirus importance rates are much lower than the world. This can be seen through the prism of Ukraine's neighbors. Russia, Hungary, and Poland are among the countries bordering Ukraine where polls have been conducted. In these countries, the assessment of the coronavirus pandemic problem is also much lower than on average in the world - Russia (22%), Poland (31%), Hungary (15%). If earlier Ukraine was similar to Russia in terms of coronavirus assessment, now we see that in Eastern Europe this aspect is more similar to each other.
In general, it is clear that socio-political problems are gradually displacing the topic of the pandemic, although, obviously, in each country it happens in its own way. We should not forget that Poland held presidential elections, and in Hungary (including through the coronavirus) a political conflict broke out over the presidency.
In addition, it should be borne in mind that Ukraine and Russia do not belong to the developed countries. The problem of the pandemic could not displace local the long-standing problems.
On the other hand, in Ukraine more than a third of citizens have already adapted to change and a new lifestyle (34%). At the same time, 13% believe that the pandemic is not a threat to them.
The attitude to coronavirus as it is not the most important issue to Ukrainians can be discovered in other examples. 37% are ready to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as it becomes available. Those who are not ready to do it almost half - 45%. On the other hand, fewer people are ready to do the same thing about flu vaccination - 26% of respondents, and 57% will not do it. In the eyes of Ukrainians, therefore, the pandemic still remains a greater threat than other diseases. This is also evident from the feelings that Ukrainians have. Although most want to return to normal life and are worried about their financial situation (62% and 44% respectively), a third of the population (32%) cares about their health in the context of coronavirus. It is also important that this is relevant for all age groups. 
It is interesting that people aged 25-34 indicate that one of the main feelings is that they do not like the restriction of personal freedom (41%).              
Despite the fact that the problem of coronavirus is becoming less important for Ukrainians,  the number of people who believe that the pandemic will end soon has remained almost unchanged for 3 months: 16% of citizens thought so in March - April,  17% in June - July. This underlines the fact that people have learned to live in new conditions. Socio-political problems also did not lose their relevance and even increased it, including the fact that the COVID-19 problem has receded into the background.