About the war in Ukraine and Possible Extension of the Conflict
Author: Jonathan Scovil
|
2024-05-14
The percentage of Poles who believe that the war in Ukraine is a threat to Poland's security has increased significantly this spring and was at an above-average high level of 81% in April. Although this number has remained relatively high throughout the war, it was also very stable until recently, so the current change does not seem to be accidental and is probably related to the increasingly frequent media reports about Ukraine's possible defeat.
Do you agree that the war in Ukraine is a threat to the security of Poland?
![Figure 1. Do you agree that the war in Ukraine is a threat to the security of Poland?](reports/files/2024_048/2024_05_rysunek_1.png)
The majority of Poles (59%) also consider an armed attack by Russia on NATO countries in the coming years to be probable. About one-third (32%) share the opposite opinion.
There is increasingly talk about a possible armed attack by Russia on NATO countries, which would take place within the next 3 to 8 years. How likely do you think such an attack is?
![Figure 2. There is increasingly talk about a possible armed attack by Russia on NATO countries, which would take place within the next 3 to 8 years. How likely do you think such an attack is?](reports/files/2024_048/2024_05_rysunek_2.png)
When asked what they would do if Russia invaded Poland, respondents gave varied answers. More than two-fifths (44%) said that they would support the country's defence in some way - either by participating in combat (14%) or supporting it in other ways, e.g. by participating in aid operations behind the lines (30%). A quarter answered that they would try to live more or less as before (26%), and one-fifth (20%) said that they would go to a safe place inland (4%) or abroad (16%). One-tenth (10%) chose the answer "don't know".
What would do in the event of an armed attack by Russia on Poland?
![Figure 3. What would do in the event of an armed attack by Russia on Poland?](reports/files/2024_048/2024_05_rysunek_3.png)
Respondents declaring participation in the armed defence of the country were, more often than on average, men, younger respondents, residents of smaller towns, people with basic vocational education and respondents with right-wing or unspecified political views. People who declared going abroad were more commonly women, also younger respondents, residents of larger cities, people with higher education, respondents who assessed their financial conditions better, less often practiced religion and expressed left-wing views.
When asked whether they were preparing in any way for a possible attack from Russia, the majority of respondents (62%) answered that they were not doing so. Nearly one-fifth (18%) mentioned one way of preparing for war, and one-ninth (11%) mentioned two. The most frequently indicated forms of preparation were checking recommendations on what to do in the event of a war outbreak (19%) and determining where there are shelters near the place of residence (18%). One-ninth also declared that they were saving cash due to the threat (11%), and one-fourteenth had participated in military training (7%) or were stocking up on water, food, medicines and other necessities (7%).
Due to the possible threat of an attack from Russia have you …
![Figure 4. Due to the possible threat of an attack from Russia have you …](reports/files/2024_048/2024_05_rysunek_4.png)
More information about this topic can be found in CBOS report in Polish: “War in Ukraine and the possible extension of the conflict", May 2024. Fieldwork dates for the sample: April 2024, N=1079. The random sample is representative for adult population of Poland.