Ukrainians’ Negative Attitudes toward Belarusians have Increased Even More Radically than Those They have toward Russians, Kyiv Pollsters Say

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Aug. 24 – It will surprise no one that Ukrainians have vastly more negative attitudes toward Russians than they did in 2021, with 81 percent saying they have a negative attitude toward them now after the invasion compared to 41 percent making that declaration a year ago.

            But some may be surprised that Ukrainian attitudes toward Belarusians are far more negative now than they were a year ago even though Belarus has not engaged in military action against Ukraine, but that is precisely what Kyiv’s Rating pollsters are now reporting (ratinggroup.ua/research/ukraine/s_mnadcyate_zagalnonac_onalne_opituvannya_dentichn_st_patr_otizm_c_nnost_17-18_serpnya_2022.html).

            At present, 52 percent of Ukrainians say they have a negative attitude about Belarusians, compared to the 33 percent who said that in April of this year, and four percent who said the same in 2021, an increase of 13 times compared to the doubling of hostility toward Russians, the polling agency says.

            To be sure, Ukrainian negativity toward Russians started from a higher base; but it is certainly significant that Ukrainian attitudes toward the third of Putin’s “triune Slavic” nations have risen so far and so fast. This pattern suggests that a rapprochement between Ukrainians and Belarusians may also be a long time coming.