Sweden is among the countries toward which Ukrainians demonstrate consistent sympathy and almost complete absence of criticism. These conclusions were drawn based on the results of a sociological survey conducted by Active Group in cooperation with the Experts Club information and analytical center in April 2025.
According to the survey results, 70.3% of respondents have a positive attitude toward Sweden (35.3% — mostly positive, 35% — completely positive). Only 1.9% gave a negative assessment (1.5% — mostly negative, 0.4% — completely negative). Another 25.4% of Ukrainians took a neutral position, and 2.4% abstained from answering.
“The high level of positive attitudes toward Sweden can be explained by its consistent policy of supporting democracy, human rights, and assistance to Ukraine, in particular humanitarian and security assistance,” said Oleksandr Pozniy, co-founder of Active Group.
The results indicate that Sweden, like other Northern European countries, is shaping an image in Ukraine as a reliable partner with clear principles.
The presentation of the study is available at the link.
ACTIVE GROUP, DIPLOMACY, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, URAKIN
OTP BANK JSC will be the financial partner of this year’s most high-profile automotive event, KYIV CAR FEST, which will bring together representatives of various subcultures at its venues. The event will take place on the weekend of May 10 and 11, from 12:00 to 20:00, at the Retroville shopping and entertainment center.
This year’s festival was created in collaboration with renowned automotive graphics and design master Oleksandr Lituta, who has been developing unique projects for special cars and the world’s best race car drivers for over 15 years. Therefore, KYIV CAR FEST vol.5 is dedicated to automotive design, and artistic masterpieces of various styles and genres will be created live at the event. Artists from all over Ukraine will gather to showcase their best works to festival participants and visitors.
OTP BANK will be represented at both outdoor and indoor locations. The outdoor location is expected to be the most eventful: guests will have a unique opportunity to apply for a loan for a used car from among those on sale at the festival. It will also be possible to apply for a loan to order a used car from the US or other countries, from the Bank’s partners, or on the Ponova by OTP Bank marketplace.
In addition, there will be special raffles where attendees can win a discount on their used car loan during the festival.
A special chatbot, which can be accessed by scanning a QR code, will help guests understand how much they can expect to borrow when applying for a loan. In just one minute and in complete confidentiality, car enthusiasts will find out their loan amount. The Bank’s specialists will also be on hand to answer questions about financing used cars.
To maximize the excitement, OTP BANK will give guests the opportunity to sit behind the wheel of a cool electric car, and free instant photos will preserve memories of a bright weekend for a long time.
A chance to win UAH 1 million: all loans for used cars worth UAH 30,000 or more, taken out during or after the festival, up to and including May 31, will be entered into the “Liam na Tachku” promotion. The Bank’s customers will have an incredible opportunity to win a million hryvnias to buy the car of their dreams – right during the live broadcast on June 10.
We look forward to seeing you at KYIV CAR FEST, it’s going to be epic!
KYIV CAR FEST ticket giveaway: OTP BANK regularly holds promotions and unique offers to give customers new opportunities and exciting experiences. A ticket giveaway for the festival has started on our Instagram page – go there and find out all the terms and conditions! Don’t miss your chance to have an unforgettable experience with OTP BANK.
According to a survey conducted by Active Group and Experts Club, 26.7% of Ukrainians have a positive attitude toward Pakistan, while 12.0% express a negative attitude. At the same time, the majority of respondents (55.3%) take a neutral position, which indicates a low level of awareness or emotional interest in this country.
“Despite its geopolitical importance, Pakistan rarely appears in the Ukrainian media, especially in a positive light. This shapes a predominantly neutral, sometimes stereotypical perception. However, the proportion of positive attitudes demonstrates the openness of Ukrainian citizens to new partnerships and cultures,” notes Maksim Urakhin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.
Pakistan has a chance to shape a new image in the eyes of Ukrainian society through cultural, educational, or economic initiatives that will shift perceptions in a positive direction.
The study is available at the link.
ACTIVE GROUP, DIPLOMACY, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, URAKIN
Polish carriers have announced a new protest action on the border with Ukraine. This was announced by the Committee for the Protection of Transport Carriers and Employers of Poland, which submitted an official request to hold the event near the Dorohusk-Yagodin checkpoint, one of the largest between the two countries.
According to the organizers, the decision to resume protests is related to the Polish government’s lack of response to the demands of representatives of the transport industry.
“We have registered a protest at the largest border crossing point. Disappointed by the inaction of the authorities, we want to restore the balance in the transport market, which was disrupted after the cancellation of permits for Ukrainian carriers,” the Committee said in a statement.
At the moment, the date and duration of the protest have not been specified.
Context: ongoing tensions at the border
Protests by Polish carriers and farmers on the border with Ukraine have been ongoing since November 2023. The main demands of the participants are the return of the permit system for Ukrainian carriers, a ban on imports of Ukrainian products, state subsidies for fertilizers, compensation for fuel excise taxes, and immediate payment of subsidies.
In some cases, the protests have led to the effective blockade of border crossing points, creating long queues and significant disruptions to logistics.
Restrictions at the border
In addition to possible protests, capacity at a number of border crossing points is limited due to repair work:
From April 24 to mid-July, work is being carried out at the Medyka-Shehyni border crossing point;
From April 30 to June 5, at the Ustyluh-Zosin checkpoint;
From May 8 to mid-June, at the Korcheva-Krakovets checkpoint.
In addition, a new road checkpoint, Nizhankovychi-Malhovychi, has been operating since the end of 2024, open to passenger and freight transport.
History of border blockades
The first large-scale stage of protests by Polish farmers and carriers began in the fall of 2023. Over the following months, they repeatedly blocked key border crossings, including Yagodyn, Rava-Ruska, Krakivets, and Shehyni. The protests were accompanied by political rhetoric and discontent over the expanded access of Ukrainian carriers to the EU without permits, which caused concern among Polish trade unions.
Despite temporary agreements between the Ukrainian and Polish authorities, tensions at the border remain high. Experts note that the situation requires a systemic political and economic solution, including the renewal of agreements and the easing of competitive tensions between the countries.
Hungary is one of the few countries in the European Union that provokes a critical or negative attitude among a significant part of Ukrainians. This is evidenced by the results of a sociological survey conducted by Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club analytical center in April 2025.
56.1% of Ukrainians surveyed expressed a negative attitude toward Hungary (36.6% — mostly negative, 19.4% — completely negative). Only 12.5% of respondents have a positive perception (8.4% — mostly positive, 4.1% — completely positive). Another 27.9% remained neutral, and 3.6% abstained from answering.
“The reason for this level of distrust is the consistent policy of official Budapest, which often runs counter to the positions of Ukraine and its allies in the EU and NATO. Ukrainians clearly note these differences,” said Oleksandr Pozniy, co-founder of Active Group.
These results signal the need to rethink bilateral relations and the importance of transparent diplomacy.
ACTIVE GROUP, DIPLOMACY, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, URAKIN
According to a survey conducted by Active Group and Experts Club, 26.7% of Ukrainians expressed a positive attitude toward India (21.7% — mostly positive, 5.0% — completely positive), while 12.0% expressed a negative attitude. The vast majority (55.3%) have a neutral attitude, which indicates that there is no established image of this country in the mass consciousness of Ukrainians.
“India is perceived as a country with a huge population, a dynamic economy, and a deep cultural heritage. At the same time, it is informationally distant from Ukrainian consumers, which creates a significant level of neutrality and low emotional coloring in its perception,” comments Maksim Urakin, PhD in Economics and founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.
India remains a promising partner for the development of humanitarian and economic ties, but needs a more active information presence in Ukraine to form a clearer positive image.
The presentation of the study is available at the link.
ACTIVE GROUP, DIPLOMACY, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, URAKIN
