Report Based on the Results of an Online Survey Conducted Using an Interactive Structured Questionnaire, the Link to Which Was Sent to Potential Respondents from the Database (the Research Online Panel of the Kherson Community)
Purpose of the study:
To assess public perceptions of the current situation in Kherson, identify the main challenges and needs of the community, and measure the level of trust in governmental authorities and civic institutions.
Key Findings
The main issues that concern Kherson residents are, as expected, related to the war: shelling of the city (83%), developments on the frontline (67%), security (65%), and anti-drone protection (55%). Corruption also ranked among the top five concerns (64%). These and other challenges equally worry both residents who remain in Kherson and those who have left the community.
Residents currently living in Kherson are more concerned about security, anti-drone protection, and unemployment, while those living outside the community are more troubled by corruption and high housing rental prices. Concerns about violations during mobilization, despite being actively discussed in the media, ranked in the lower half of the list of community problems.
Judging by the increased demand for information on where to seek humanitarian or charitable assistance, this issue is also important for 36% of Kherson residents “here” and 31% of Kherson residents “there.” This need has remained consistently significant for more than one-third of Kherson residents, as evidenced by survey dynamics from 2023 to 2025.
The need for consultations on obtaining compensation for property damaged during the war is also growing. Currently, 35% of respondents report this need, including 40% among those living outside the community. This correlates with data on the consequences of shelling in Kherson. Compared to previous survey waves, the share of respondents whose housing was damaged due to shelling increased in November 2025. At present, 57% of respondents report housing damage. Additionally, 88% of respondents believe that shelling is aimed at terrorizing the civilian population.
Kherson residents highly rate the work of municipal services and companies providing gas, water, and electricity. Relatively lower ratings are given to elevator maintenance services and the management of multi-apartment residential buildings. Overall, 81% of respondents trust Kherson municipal service providers.
Over the past three years, rescuers, military personnel, and volunteers in Kherson have consistently remained at the top of the trust rankings. Their combined trust rating (those who fully trust or rather trust) remains at around 90%. At the same time, trust in local military administrations and their leadership remains consistently low, with the balance of trust shifting toward negative assessments. A lack of information about their activities is also noted.
In general, Kherson residents — both those who remain in the community and those currently living elsewhere — demonstrate a high level of consensus in their assessments. This suggests that Kherson residents continue to exist within a shared information space, follow developments in the city equally closely, and remain emotionally connected to it regardless of their current location.
The study shows that Kherson residents, regardless of where they are located, remain within a unified information environment and maintain a high level of engagement in community life. The collected data provide an important foundation for further decisions aimed at supporting, strengthening resilience, and facilitating the recovery of the Kherson community.
The study was conducted by the Community Foundation of Kherson “Zakhyst” within the project “The Voice of Kherson Residents for Community Resilience and Recovery,” implemented as part of the “Impulse” Project, carried out by the International Renaissance Foundation and the Eastern Europe Foundation with financial support from Norway (Norad) and Sweden (Sida).
The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Renaissance Foundation, the Eastern Europe Foundation, the Government of Norway, or the Government of Sweden.
