In the survey, sociologists asked respondents which option they would choose if, in the near future, Ukraine was to join one of the economic or political associations.
Only 22% of respondents in the liberated territory of Donetsk region supported an economic and political alliance with Russia, while almost half of the residents of the uncontrolled territories, some 48%, back this idea.
At the same time, the option of joining the European Union was supported by 23% of respondents in the liberated territories, whereas only 9% of respondents in the occupied areas favor this option.
Read alsoOver 40% of Ukrainians say NATO membership fundamental guarantee of national securityFurther, at least one-third of the respondents in both parts of the Donetsk region would prefer that Ukraine not join any political or economic associations, voicing these positions by 38% and 30%, respectively.
Head of Think Tank Donbas Dmytro Tkachenko has said that after two years into the conflict, the region remains unique, in terms of socio-cultural features.
“If we are talking about the portrait of residents in controlled and uncontrolled territories, we say, straight away, that we witness a very strong phenomenon in both parts of the region that we call paternalism: the desire for a strong state and a strong leader, underdeveloped civic engagement and civic positions, low level responsibility and unwillingness to take responsibility," said Tkachenko.
Read alsoMore than 40% of Ukrainians oppose idea of amnesty for separatists – pollHe added that the Donbas residents declared that their rights and freedoms remain important.
The poll was conducted by the Ukrainian office of the international research agency IFAK Institut between May 30 and June 13, 2016, at the request of Think Tank Donbas analytical center.
The method to gather data was through personal interviews.
Pollsters interviewed respondents between the ages of 18 and 65 who reside in government-controlled and militant-controlled urban and rural areas of Donetsk region.
In the uncontrolled areas, 605 respondents were interviewed. The sampling error is +/- 3.98%.
In the territory controlled by Ukraine, 805 respondents were interviewed, and the sampling error is +/- 3.45%.
