Georgia has the highest balance of positive and negative attitudes among Ukrainians among the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia included in the study—48.5 percentage points. Azerbaijan scored 40.1 percentage points, while Uzbekistan’s score was 11.1 percentage points. These findings come from the third wave of the study “Ukrainians’ Attitudes Toward Countries Around the World,” conducted by Active Group in collaboration with Experts Club, according to the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center.
57.3% of Ukrainians surveyed view Georgia positively, 32.1% neutrally, 8.8% negatively, and another 1.8% were undecided. The balance of positive and negative assessments stands at 48.5 percentage points and has gradually increased over the three waves of the survey: from 45.6 percentage points in August 2025 to 47.5 percentage points in March 2026 and 48.5 percentage points in August of this year. The current figures for positive attitudes and the balance are confirmed by the published survey data.
A positive attitude toward Azerbaijan was expressed by 48.7% of respondents, a neutral one by 39.5%, a negative one by 8.6%, and another 3.1% chose the “difficult to answer” option. The balance stands at 40.1 percentage points. Compared to March 2026, it has risen from 37.8 percentage points, but remains lower than the August 2025 level of 51 percentage points. In terms of the share of positive assessments, Azerbaijan ranks second in this regional group after Georgia.
Attitudes toward Uzbekistan are characterized primarily by a high proportion of neutral assessments. 25.6% of respondents view the country positively, 55.6% neutrally, 14.5% negatively, and another 4.3% are undecided. The balance between positive and negative responses is 11.1 percentage points. In the study’s analytical materials, the high proportion of neutral responses is noted as a characteristic feature of perceptions of countries in the region that receive less media attention from the Ukrainian audience.
Thus, the balance remains positive for all three countries surveyed, but the structure of the assessments differs significantly. In the case of Georgia, the overwhelming majority of respondents express a positive attitude; positive assessments also prevail regarding Azerbaijan, while a neutral stance dominates in assessments of Uzbekistan.
Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center, deputy director of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, and candidate of economic sciences, emphasized the importance of systematic communication between foreign partners and Ukrainian society.
“Second, we must be open to questions and inquiries from the media and the public. We also need to make use of our sociological data,” Urakin noted. According to him, it is important for embassies to regularly inform the Ukrainian audience about specific results of cooperation and to maintain full-fledged communication in the Ukrainian language.
Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group, drew attention to the need to develop the practical component of international economic cooperation.
“We should focus not only on raising general awareness. We need to expand cooperation with countries where we can achieve a positive trade balance,” Pozniy noted. He also highlighted the role of business associations, the Ministry of Economy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in developing bilateral relations.
The survey was conducted in August 2026 using self-administered online questionnaires via the SunFlowerSociology panel. A total of 800 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older were surveyed. According to the organizers, the sample is representative in terms of age, gender, and region, and the maximum theoretical margin of error for indicators at the 50% confidence level is ±3.5 percentage points. This is the third wave of the survey, following surveys conducted in August 2025 and March 2026.
ACTIVE GROUP, AZERBAIJAN, Central Asia, EXPERTS CLUB, GEORGIA, international relations, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, the Caucasus, UKRAINE, URAKIN, UZBEKISTAN
The intensification of Russian attacks on Ukraine threatens to trigger a humanitarian crisis as winter approaches, as attacks on cities and critical infrastructure could leave millions of people without electricity, heating, and water, said Khaled Khiairi, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, during a UN Security Council meeting, noting that Russian attacks have reached “a new horrific level.”
According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), more than 100 civilians were killed and at least 429 were injured in Ukraine over the course of the week as a result of Russian strikes.
Hiari noted that strikes on bridges, educational institutions, and energy infrastructure are causing disruptions to electricity and water supplies, while prolonged air raid alerts are intensifying the psychological pressure on the civilian population. He called for an immediate halt to attacks on energy facilities and populated areas.
“All attacks directed against the civilian population and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur, constitute a violation of international humanitarian law and must cease immediately,” the UN representative stated.
During the meeting, Gemma Connell, Director of the Crisis Response Division at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, speaking on behalf of UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, announced a $358 million winter response plan. It aims to assist 2 million of the most vulnerable people by providing heating, shelter, and food.
“No amount of preparedness can replace the protection of the infrastructure on which the civilian population depends,” Connell emphasized, calling for the protection of civilians, unimpeded humanitarian access, safe evacuation, and the safety of humanitarian personnel.
Ukraine’s representative to the UN, Andriy Melnyk, stated at the meeting that Russian attacks on the civilian population have reached an unprecedented level of brutality. According to him, UN observers confirmed the deaths of 2,222 civilians and injuries to more than 13,000 people in Ukraine in 2026. He also mentioned strikes on the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and on bridges that provide civilians with access to hospitals, food, and safe places.
Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of the European Union Delegation to the UN, warned that attacks on Black Sea ports threaten global food security. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), wheat prices rose by 6.3% in September.
Chiari also drew attention to incidents involving drones near Moldova and attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea. Separately, he reported that in the occupied town of Oleshky, according to available information, approximately 2,000 civilians, including 35 children, remain trapped without food or medical supplies. An urgent local ceasefire is necessary for their evacuation.
The volume of construction work completed in Ukraine from January through August 2026 decreased by 9.9% compared to January through August 2025, according to data from the State Statistics Service (Derzhstat).
According to the statistical agency, the volume of construction output in January–August totaled 156.5 billion hryvnias.
According to the State Statistics Service, over the eight-month period, the volume of residential construction decreased by 3.8% compared to January–August of last year, nonresidential construction by 6.3%, and civil engineering structures by 13.7%.
In August 2026, compared to August 2025, construction volumes decreased by 3.7%, including residential construction by 2.3% and civil engineering structures by 12.2%. At the same time, construction volumes for non-residential buildings increased by 9.8%.
In August 2026, compared with the previous month, construction volumes increased by 12.9%; specifically, in the residential category by 0.2%, in nonresidential buildings by 25.3%, and in civil engineering structures by 8.8%.
According to the agency’s seasonally adjusted data, construction output indices in August 2026 stood at 62% for residential construction, 155% for nonresidential construction, and in civil engineering at 112%; taking into account the calendar-day effect, the figures were 63.1%, 156.5%, and 115.4%, respectively.
The share of new construction in the total volume of construction work completed in July was 44.6%, repairs—30.3%, and reconstruction and other work—25.1%.
CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE, REAL ESTATE, State Statistics Service, UKRAINE
According to Experts Club, France and the Netherlands have the highest share of positive attitudes among Ukrainians among the Western European countries included in the study — 72.8% and 71.2%, respectively. Germany is viewed positively by 69.9% of respondents, and Switzerland by 66.9%. These findings come from the third wave of the study “Ukrainians’ Attitudes Toward Countries Around the World,” conducted by Active Group in collaboration with Experts Club, reports the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center.
According to the results of the August survey, 22.5% of respondents have a neutral attitude toward France, 3.7% have a negative attitude, and another 1% were undecided. The balance of positive and negative assessments stands at 69.1 percentage points, compared to 69.9 percentage points in March 2026 and 71 percentage points in August 2025.
For the Netherlands, the balance of positive and negative attitudes stands at 69.6 percentage points. Specifically, 71.2% of respondents view the country positively, 26.4% neutrally, and only 1.6% negatively. In March 2026, the balance was slightly higher—71.5 percentage points—while in August 2025 it stood at 61 percentage points.
69.9% of Ukrainians view Germany positively, 23.5% neutrally, and 5.5% negatively. Its net balance fell to 64.4 percentage points, compared to 73.9 percentage points in March and 72.7 percentage points in August of last year. Thus, among the six Western European countries surveyed, Germany showed the most significant decline in this indicator between March and August 2026.
Switzerland is viewed positively by 66.9% of respondents, negatively by only 1.4%, and 29.7% hold a neutral view. The balance stands at 65.5 percentage points, compared to 67.1 percentage points in March.
Belgium is the only country in this group where the balance increased in August compared to March—from 56.4 to 58.5 percentage points. 59.9% of respondents view the country positively, 36% neutrally, and 1.4% negatively. In August 2025, the balance stood at 54.4 percentage points
Austria received the lowest share of positive responses among the Western European countries surveyed—52.6%. At the same time, only 2.7% of Ukrainians view it negatively, while 41.7% chose a neutral response. The balance stands at 49.9 percentage points, compared to 53.3 percentage points in March 2026 and 44 percentage points in August 2025. Overall, the data indicate that the lower levels of positive attitudes toward Belgium and Austria are primarily due to a higher proportion of neutral, rather than negative, assessments.
Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center, deputy director of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, and candidate of economic sciences, emphasized the importance of systematic communication between foreign partners and Ukrainian society.
“The first recommendation is to regularly showcase concrete achievements and specific actions. The second is to be open to questions and inquiries from the media and the public,” Urakin noted.
Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group, for his part, drew attention to the link between public awareness and the practical development of bilateral cooperation.
“We should focus not only on raising general awareness. We need to expand cooperation with countries where we can achieve a positive balance,” Pozniy noted.
The survey was conducted in August 2026 using self-administered online questionnaires in the SunFlowerSociology panel among 800 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older. According to the organizers, the sample is representative in terms of age, gender, and region; the maximum theoretical statistical margin of error at a 95% confidence level is 3.5%. This is the third wave of the study, following surveys conducted in August 2025 and March 2026.
ACTIVE GROUP, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, EXPERTS CLUB, FRANCE, GERMANY, SOCIOLOGY, SWITZERLAND, THE NETHERLANDS, UKRAINE, WESTERN EUROPE
The Czech Republic and Moldova have the highest net sentiment—the balance of positive and negative attitudes—among Ukrainians among the Central and Eastern European countries included in the study—56.2 and 48.2 percentage points, respectively. At the same time, the balance of attitudes toward Poland turned negative in August 2026, while assessments of Slovakia and Hungary improved significantly compared to previous waves. This is evidenced by the results of the third wave of the study “Ukrainians’ Attitudes Toward Countries Around the World,” conducted by Active Group in collaboration with Experts Club, according to the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center.
The Czech Republic received the highest share of positive assessments in this group—61.3%. 32.1% of respondents have a neutral attitude toward it, 5.1% have a negative attitude, and another 1.6% were undecided. The balance of positive and negative attitudes stands at 56.2 percentage points, compared to 64.4 percentage points in March 2026 and 58.7 percentage points in August 2025.
Regarding Moldova, 55.4% of respondents have a positive attitude, 35.6% are neutral, and 7.2% have a negative attitude. The balance stands at 48.2 percentage points, which is lower than the 54.7 percentage points recorded in March but higher than the 46.6 percentage points recorded in August of last year.
Regarding Romania, 45.2% of respondents expressed a positive attitude, 42.3% were neutral, and 9.8% were negative. The balance fell to 35.4 percentage points from 41.7 percentage points in March. In Bulgaria, positive assessments accounted for 42.7%, neutral ones for 47.6%, and negative ones for 7.4%, with the balance standing at 35.3 percentage points, compared to 51.5 percentage points in March.
Unlike most countries in the group, attitudes toward Slovakia showed a noticeable improvement. It is viewed positively by 40.7% of respondents, negatively by 12.1%, and neutrally by 44.4%. The balance rose to 28.6 percentage points from 16.1 percentage points in March 2026 and just 1.6 percentage points in August 2025.
The sharpest negative trend was recorded regarding Poland. 34.6% of Ukrainians view it positively, 37% negatively, and 25.4% neutrally. As a result, the net balance stands at minus 2.4 percentage points, whereas in March 2026 it was plus 41.7 percentage points, and in August 2025—plus 44 percentage points. The deterioration in attitudes toward Poland was one of the most notable shifts in the third wave of the survey.
Hungary remains in the negative zone: 22.9% of respondents expressed a positive attitude, 35.6% a negative one, and 37.4% a neutral one. At the same time, its balance improved to minus 12.7 percentage points compared to minus 33.6 percentage points in March and minus 39.7 percentage points in August 2025.
Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center, deputy director of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, and candidate of economic sciences, emphasized that public perception of countries must be analyzed in parallel with Ukraine’s actual economic ties.
“That is why it is very important for us to analyze our main partners. The first recommendation is to regularly showcase concrete projects, specific actions, and the presence here of foundations, embassies, teams, and diplomats in the humanitarian sphere and in science. We also need to use our sociological data to draw conclusions and strengthen our relations, particularly trade relations,” Urakin noted.
Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research firm Active Group, highlighted the practical significance of the study’s findings for economic and diplomatic policy.
“We should focus on developing more than just general awareness. First and foremost, business associations, the Ministry of Economy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs need to work to develop bilateral relations and improve the balance of trade. We must expand cooperation with countries where we can achieve a positive trade balance,” Pozniy noted.
The survey was conducted in August 2026 using self-administered online questionnaires in the SunFlowerSociology panel among 800 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older. According to the organizers, the sample is representative by age, gender, and region, with a maximum theoretical margin of error of 3.5%. This is the third wave of the study, following surveys conducted in August 2025 and March 2026.
ACTIVE GROUP, BULGARIA, Central Europe, CZECH REPUBLIC, EASTERN EUROPE, EXPERTS CLUB, HUNGARY, MOLDOVA, POLAND, Pozniy, ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, SOCIOLOGY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Taras Kachka as Ukraine’s representative to the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community by presidential decree.
Decree No. 1034/2026 was published on the President’s website on Friday.
