The number of Ukrainians planning Christmas and New Year shopping has increased over the year from 65% to 75%, despite the fourth year of full-scale war, according to Deloitte Ukraine’s “Holiday Shopping 2025” survey, provided by the company’s press service.
“This year, we see that preparations for the holidays are becoming more thoughtful and forward-looking: Ukrainians are planning their purchases earlier, approaching spending more cautiously, and more often choosing things that have personal significance for them and their loved ones. For 51% of respondents, the process of preparing gifts remains a pleasant ritual rather than a source of stress. Such familiar concerns help us today to support ourselves and those around us,” notes Alexander Yampolsky, head of retail and wholesale distribution at Deloitte Ukraine.
However, according to the survey results, more and more Ukrainians are also choosing to celebrate at home—68% compared to 54% in 2024. More and more Ukrainians are starting their holiday shopping early: 18% before December, while the main shopping period is December 1-24 (62%).
For the fourth year in a row, Ukrainians are not increasing their spending: 46% are willing to spend no more than a quarter of their monthly income on shopping, and 54% plan to spend between UAH 1,000 and UAH 5,000, with holiday purchases focused on family (88%) and friends (40%). At the same time, young people are more likely to deviate from the traditional scenario: 49% buy gifts for themselves.
Ukrainians most often do their holiday shopping in large and medium-sized supermarket chains (43%), with online stores consistently ranking second (27%) and cosmetics stores (21%) remaining popular due to the demand for gifts “for themselves and their loved ones.”
The most popular tools for choosing gifts are wish lists (46%), price comparison services (54%), and online reviews (50%). Recommendations from influencers play a much smaller role, with only 9-10% of respondents relying on them. And only 10% of respondents believe that the presence of an AI assistant on retailers’ online platforms would make it easier to select holiday gifts.
It is emphasized that shoppers are most upset by the lack of available products (27%), excessive advertising (22%), and inconvenient search filters (14%).
At the same time, 64% of Ukrainians plan to allocate part of their holiday budget to charity, and 8 out of 10 primarily support Ukrainian defenders on the front lines.
“The holiday habits of Ukrainians reflect not only consumer trends, but also deeper internal changes. The way people give gifts, celebrate, and seek joy is now an important part of their emotional stability. Even during the war, Ukrainians remain a community that helps, shares, and creates a festive atmosphere for each other,” Yampolsky concluded.
The study was conducted using a multi-stage stratified sample representing the population of Ukraine by gender, age, size of settlement, and type of employment. Data was collected through an online survey using a quota sample that corresponds to the socio-demographic profile of the Ukrainian population. In total, more than 1,000 respondents took part in the survey.
JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” announces the appointment of seven additional passenger trains on the eve of the New Year, six of which in the Carpathian direction.
Train number 191/192 Kiev-Lviv on December 30. At 7:44 departure from Kiev, at 15:28 arrival in Lviv. Return trip on the same day: at 8:06 departure from Lviv, at 15:38 arrival in Kyiv.
Train #229/230 Kiev-Uzhgorod via Vinnitsa, Khmelnitsky, Ternopol, Lviv, Slavske, Mukachevo. December 29 at 20:03 departure from Kiev, December 30 at 13:23 arrival in Uzhgorod. Return trip: December 30 at 22:21 departure from Uzhgorod, December 31 at 13:40 arrival in Kiev.
Train #238/237 Odessa-Uzhgorod via Zhmerinka, Khmelnitsky, Ternopol, Lviv, Slavske, Mukachevo. December 29 at 17:00 departure from Odessa, December 30 at 12:02 arrival in Uzhgorod. Return trip: December 30 at 17:00 departure from Uzhgorod, December 31 at 11:06 arrival in Odessa.
Train № 216/215 Zaporizhzhya – Ivano-Frankivsk. December 28 and 30 at 13:05 departure from Zaporizhzhya, at 4:58-5:50 passage through Lviv and at 8:13 arrival in Ivano-Frankivsk. Return flights: December 29 and 31 at 15:42 departure from Ivano-Frankivsk, at 18:35-19:10 travel through Lviv and at 12:05 arrival to Zaporizhzhia.
№255/256 Kyiv-Chernivtsi via Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomyia. Departure from Kiev on December 28, 29 and 30, arrival the next day at 5:50 in Chernivtsi. Return flights: December 29, 30 and January 1 at 17:38 departure from Chernivtsi, next day at 9:22 arrival to Kyiv.
№ 211/212 Kharkiv-Lviv. December 29 at 13:43 departure from Kharkiv, December 30 at 8:27 arrival in Lviv. Return trip: at 17:50 from Lviv arriving in Kharkiv at 12:13.
#176/175 Kyiv-Kryvyi Rih via Myronivka, Shevchenko station, Alexandria on December 30. At 6:19 departure from Kiev, at 15:07 arrival in Krivoy Rog. Return trip on the same day: 8:09 departure from Kryvyi Rih, 16:26 arrival in Kiev.
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to our readers!
Happy winter holidays and good luck throughout the coming year.
May this year be better than the previous one, make dreams come true and succeed in future endeavors.
Let not only on these holidays, but also throughout the coming year, close and dear people will be near.
I wish you peace, confidence and happiness!
Thank you for staying with us
Editor Maksim Urakin
Among Ukrainians, the most popular New Year gifts are a romantic trip, a car, accessories and money, according to the results of a study conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on December 3 through December 11, 2021.
According to the opinion poll, if in the previous pre-COVID-19 years Ukrainians were very mercantile (money was in first place by a large margin), now, the first place is taken by a romantic trip (18% of respondents) and a car and accessories to it (12%). The next three gifts that Ukrainians would like to receive are money (10%), a mobile phone and other electronic devices (9%), as well as household appliances (7%).
Less than 5% of respondents want to receive all other gifts.
So, as for the desired gifts for men and women, apart from money (which both men and women like equally), there is expected to be a significant difference between them. Some 14% of men and 10% of women would like to get cars or accessories for them, 8.3% of women and 4.5% of men would like to get household appliances (men also actively participate in cooking and cleaning). Some 20% of women and 17% of men would like to go on a romantic trip. 6% of women and 3% of men would like to get eau de toilette, perfumery, and cosmetics.
In addition, according to the results of the study, if we consider the change in wishes from 2014 to 2021, then in addition to a significant increase in the desire to travel, there is a growing need for mobile phones and other electronic devices (from 3% in 2014 to 9% in 2021), as well as for tablets and PCs.
Asked about the desired gift, the respondents were able also to add their own wish if it was not on the list. More often than not, there was something that was impossible to give – peace and health. But there were also more realistic wishes. These were congratulations from children or grandchildren or that they come to visit.
Some respondents answered that they would like to receive a book, a balalaika, a large chocolate bar, a two-cylinder moped, a set of paints for painting, a kiss from his wife, “so that all those who are testing the waters in Ukraine go to the demonic father behind the road-edge,” a sable fur coat as a gift, and “to take away his woman for six months.”
The number of those wishing to have a pet also increased from 0.8% to 1.8%.
The survey was conducted by Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) on the basis of a random sample of mobile telephone numbers (with random generation of telephone numbers and subsequent statistical weighting) among 2,000 respondents living in all regions of Ukraine (except for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea). In Luhansk and Donetsk regions, the survey was conducted only in the territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities.
The sample is representative of the adult population (age 18 and older) in Ukraine. The sample does not include territories temporarily not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The statistical error of the sample (with a probability of 0.95 and taking into account the design effect of 1.1) does not exceed: 2.4% for indicators close to 50%, 2.1% for indicators close to 25%, 1.5% – for indicators close to 10%, 1.1% – for indicators close to 5%.
The forest SPA resort GRAND ADMIRAL RESORT & SPA invites you to plan the celebration of New Year 2022 in advance. An eventual program has been prepared for the guests of the club: an impressive entertainer who will joke to make you laugh; amazing vocals and world hits from a cover band, so that you dance heartily; author’s menu from the chef to make incredibly tasty dishes for you!
Entertainment
December 31. New Year’s magic
14:00 – 19:00 Daytime animation for children, Admiral Kids Club
21:00 – 22:00 Welcome aperitif accompanied by live music. SPA hotel hall
From 21:00 Children’s New Year’s program with buffet table and a cake, Admiral Kids Club
From 22:00 New Year’s Eve with a charismatic entertainer, world hits from the Franky Jazz group and a festive menu from the chef. Mozart panoramic restaurant
January 1. Relax day
9:00 – 10:00 Breakfast for young guests, Fusion hall
11:00 – 14:00 Festive brunch with a sparkling wine outside. Atmosphere: folk music and songs from the folk group. Arbors of the “Pearl Town”
11:00 – 17:00 Daytime fairy tale animation for children at Admiral Kids Club
19:00 – 22:00 Cozy evening with live music at the Mozart restaurant
The cost of the New Year’s package, depending on the category of rooms, is from UAH 27,800, accommodation for 2 days is included, check-in on December 31, check-out on January 2; New Year’s menu and a program for two persons.
What to do in the Club in winter
1 Visit Ukraine’s best Wellness & SPA according to the World Luxury SPA Awards. It offers six bath houses and saunas, an outdoor Jacuzzi, a warm indoor pool, contrasting hot tubs and a spacious relaxation area with a Wellness bar. We recommend special offers with an integrated approach: a SPA day, a SPA tour and relaxing duet rituals in a double suite.
2 Free your body from the heavy ballast of stressful experiences, sleepless nights, possibly prolonged holidays, excesses in food and alcoholic drinks. Improve your health and make a full check-up of the body in the comfortable conditions of the Medical SPA, by completing a medical program for detoxification, anti-age or weight loss.
3 Spend a cozy evening in the Mozart panoramic restaurant with signature cuisine from the chef and a rich wine list. Live music creates the atmosphere every Saturday.
4 To unite with the family, friends or business partners: the club area of 23 hectares, a forest trail with original installations, signs for interactive recreation and the sculpture park “Away from the Hustle and Bustle” from world famous Ukrainian sculptors are at our guests’ service.
5 Give children an interesting weekend: every weekend there is an animation program in the Club for young guests and special offers for school holidays.
Grand Admiral Resort & SPA
116 Varshavska Street
Irpin (15 km from Kyiv)
+380 (44) 393 33 57 (hotel reception)
+380 (44) 393 33 60 (SPA reception)
admiralclub.com.ua
facebook.com/admiralclub.com.ua
The grandiose «Winter Fairy Tale» show-program, dedicated to the New Year and Christmas holidays is taking place in the «Kyivan Rus Park». Till January, 19 bright shows with special effects and horse-trick performances, ancient Slavic Winter amusements, tasty dishes prepared on fire, horse riding, master-classes, round dances, games and prize draws will be waiting for the guests.
On December, 28 and 29 the festive New Year performance with the demonstration of the «Kogel mogel» interactive musical performance, horse-trick performances, horse riding, master-classes, round dances, games and prize draws will take place in the Principality.
On December, 30 the guests will get a chance to visit the Principality, enjoy its architecture, make bright photos in the medieval city.
If you want to celebrate New Year 2020 in a princely, bright, original way and remember this holiday forever, then go to Ancient Kyiv. Here you can gather a big company or make new friends and have a lot of fun.
On the night from December, 31 2019 from 20:00 to January, 1 2020 a grandiose New Year’s performance with a masquerade, a twin show, horse-trick performances, live vocals, an interactive musical with fire special effects will take place in the Principality. Ancient Kyiv will be shine with bright lights and garlands, bonfires and torches. Tasty dishes prepared on fire, hot drinks and medieval tinctures, free horse riding (from 19:00 till 21:00), gifts and treats for everyone will be waiting for the guests, and at the end – fireworks.
The beginning of the program on December, 31 at 20:00. The end around 3:00.
It will be possible to warm up in the Main New Year`s Residence, near the bonfires, with hot dishes prepared on fire and mulled wine, fiery dances, in the warm Princely tavern by previous booking.
On January, 1 Ancient Kyiv invites to start the New Year in a nice and bright way, and spend an unforgettable day on fresh frosty air, surrounded by the masterpieces of wooden architecture of Kyivan Rus.
On January, 2 – 5 Princess Winter calls the guests once again to the « Winter fairy tale » show-program with horse-trick shows and the musical performance in which both adults and children will get a chance to participate. And also: winter amusements, horse riding, master-classes, games, competitions and round dances.
On January, 6 and 7 the inhabitants of Ancient Kyiv invite everybody to the Christmas celebration according to ancient Slavic traditions, with ancient rites and winter amusements, horse-trick performances, costumed characters, the interactive musical performance presentation. The real Christmas nativity scene will come to life in front of the viewers. The action will pass in ancient Slavic. After this the guests will be invited to a master-class on Christmas carols learning and singing.
Details: https://parkkyivrus.com
The Interfax subscribers can save money with the “openbusiness-20” promo code for a 20%-discount for the adult ticket (at full price) to the Principality of Kyivan Rus:
– by previous order by tel.: +38 044 461-99-37, +38 050 385-20-35
– or at the cash desk at the entrance to the «Kyivan Rus Park».
