MOSCOW, April 4, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to the presidential elections in Ukraine.
The Russian awareness of the presidential elections in Ukraine is high: 93% of Russians know about the electoral campaign, including 39% of those who follow the campaign closely, whereas 54% heard about the elections but do not follow them. At the same time, the share of those who did not hear about the presidential elections in Ukraine has decreased from 20% to 7% (from February to March 2019, respectively).
Russians tend to favor Volodymyr Zelensky (31%), rather than Petro Poroshenko (1%). They say that V. Zelensky is better than P. Poroshenko (20%). A further 18% say that he might be able to change the situation for the better. According to 15% of respondents, V. Zelensky is a new person who will take office; every tenth (11%) favors him as he is young, active and energetic. Nine percent consider that he can restore relations with Russia. However the majority (63%) do not favor any of the candidates for the president of Ukraine.
Three-quarters of Russians (73%) believe that Russia needs someone like V. Zelensky as head of the country (81% of A Just Russia supporters). They are opposed by 8% of Russians - mainly supporters of non-parliamentary parties (16%) and LDPR (13%).
VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on April 2, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Did you hear, or do you hear for the first time that Ukraine is currently conducting presidential elections? If yes, do you follow the electoral campaign in Ukraine, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||
| 2014* | February 24, 2019 | April 2, 2019 |
I heard about the elections, and I follow closely the electoral campaign | 24 | 18 | 39 |
I heard about the elections but I do not follow the campaign | 64 | 61 | 54 |
I hear about the elections for the first time | 11 | 20 | 7 |
Don’t know | 1 | 1 | 0 |
*In 2014, the question was “Did you hear, or do you hear for the first time, that on may 25th presidential elections will take place in Ukraine? If yes, do you follow the electoral campaign, or not?”
Based on the results of the first tour of Ukrainian presidential elections, none of the candidate gained the majority of the votes. Two candidates moved forward to the second round of voting: Volodymyr Zelensky and Petro Poroshenko. Which candidate do you favor more? (closed-ended question, one answer,% of those who heard about the Ukrainian elections) | |
| % of those who heard about the Ukrainian elections |
I am likely to favor Volodymyr Zelensky | 31 |
I am likely to favor Petro Poroshenko | 1 |
I favor both equally | 1 |
I disfavor both | 63 |
Don’t know | 4 |
Why do you favor Volodymyr Zelensky? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who favor Volodymyr Zelensky) | |
| % of those who favor Volodymyr Zelensky |
He is better than Poroshenko / I do not like Poroshenko | 20 |
There might be changes for better / he fill fix the situation / hope for changes | 18 |
Change of power / a new face | 15 |
Young, active, energetic | 11 |
He will restore relations with Russia / normal attitudes towards Russia | 9 |
Honest / no negative experience / he was not implicated in scandals | 8 |
I like him more / he inspires trust | 6 |
Artist / I like him as an artist | 6 |
Normal / sensible / smart | 5 |
He will put an end to the war / he advocates for peace | 5 |
Joyful, creative, with a sense of humor | 4 |
Not a politician / he does not have ties with the government bodies / not spoiled by politics | 3 |
Close to people / good attitudes towards people | 3 |
I support his program/stance | 3 |
People trust him | 2 |
He performed/lived in Russia/ he speaks Russian | 2 |
No alternative / the remainder are even worse | 1 |
It is interesting what comes next | 1 |
I heard of him / I know him | 1 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 10 |
In your opinion, does Russia currently need someone like V.Zelensky as head of state, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | A Just Russia | LDPR | KPRF | United Russia | Non-parliamentary parties |
Rather yes | 8 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 16 |
Rather no | 73 | 81 | 72 | 76 | 75 | 67 |
I hear this name for the first time, I know nothing about him | 7 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
Don’t know | 12 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!