Some 60% of residents of the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions controlled by the Ukrainian government support changes to Ukraine’s Constitution and the idea of giving the Russian language the status of the second state language in the country, according to a poll carried out by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation.
According to the poll results, which were published on April 9, the number of people who believe it is acceptable to give the Russian language the status of the second state language in Ukraine has increased in Donetsk and Luhansk regions since November 2018, when the previous poll by the foundation was conducted. The percentage has increased to 60% from 57% in Donetsk region and 54% in Luhansk region.
A total of 21% of respondents in Donetsk region and 16% of respondents in Luhansk region consider this step unacceptable. Previously, the percentages were 19% and 25%, respectively.
A total of 19% of respondents in Donetsk region and 24% of respondents in Luhansk region were undecided, compared to 24% and 21%, respectively, in 2018.
The poll was conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation in the period between Feb. 18 and March 2 on the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions controlled by the Ukrainian government. It surveyed 500 respondents in each region. The poll was conducted with financial assistance from the British embassy in Ukraine.
