Why most Ukrainians feel anger, hatred, or contempt toward Russian citizens after the 2022 Russian invasion

Abstract

AbstractWe use four surveys from Ukraine asking respondents to name at most three emotions that describe their feelings toward Russian citizens to assess how and why responses have changed since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. We find that 76% of Ukrainians now feel anger, hatred, or contempt toward Russian citizens compared to about 15% before the invasion. Respondents who agreed that Russian citizens supported the war to build an empire were especially more likely to feel either hatred, anger, or contempt. Perceived public desire for conquest speaks to perceived responsibility associated with anger and failure to meet an important standard associated with contempt. Additionally, anger, hatred, and contempt toward Russian citizens especially increased among respondents who mixed the use of Russian and Ukrainian or were from Eastern Ukraine, suggesting the invasion shifted attitudes toward Russian citizens among previously more pro‐Russian Ukrainians. Anger, hatred, and contempt toward both Russian citizens and the Russian government also have distinct action tendencies, cumulatively reducing support for a peaceful settlement.