---
title: "From Patriotism to Pragmatism: Why Ukrainians Are Increasingly Choosing to Stay Home"
description: "Ukrainians are planning to leave the country less frequently: the share of those wishing to obtain temporary protection has dropped from 41% to 33%. Pragmatism is replacing patriotism—people are staying for housing, family, and quality of life, although pessimism regarding the future of the war is growing. 🇺🇦📉"
date: 2026-07-03T14:16:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukrainians-choosing-to-stay-home-pragmatism-replaces-patriotism
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# From Patriotism to Pragmatism: Why Ukrainians Are Increasingly Choosing to Stay Home

![Ukrainian family with luggage at the station: mother with backpack and toy, little daughter with pink backpack, symbolizing the choice to stay home instead of emigrating](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/03/ukraincy-ostayutsya-domoy-prakticheskie-prichiny-vyihoda-na-pervyy-plan/ukraincy-ostayutsya-domoy-prakticheskie-prichiny-vyihoda-na-pervyy-plan-1.webp)

Ukrainians are increasingly less likely to consider temporary relocation abroad. Over the past two years, the share of citizens willing to leave the country to obtain temporary protection has noticeably decreased. If 41% of respondents considered this step in 2024, by 2026 this figure dropped to 33%. This is evidenced by data from a study by the company Gradus, published by RBC-Ukraine.

### Pragmatism Replaces Emotions

The shift in sentiment is linked not only to a sense of duty but also to a sober assessment of life circumstances. The decision to stay in Ukraine is increasingly dictated by practical considerations: the availability of one's own housing, proximity to relatives, and the desire to maintain a familiar quality of life.

According to the study, patriotic motives, while remaining significant, have ceased to be dominant. Only 52% of respondents named them an important reason for staying in the country. More down-to-earth factors have come to the fore:

    - Quality of life (66%);

    - Social cohesion (65%).

This trend is particularly evident among women. For them, the ability to provide normal conditions for the family and the availability of their own housing have become critically important—this factor was noted by 68% of women compared to 64% of men.

### Who Is Still Thinking About Leaving?

Despite the general trend towards settling down in their homeland, a group of people considering relocation still exists. Sociologists note that those who left Ukraine after the start of the full-scale war but subsequently returned are more inclined to migrate. Among this category, 45% are thinking about leaving again.

Conversely, the least desire to leave is demonstrated by people who have never left their permanent place of residence during the entire period of hostilities.

The main driver of migration intentions remains the issue of safety and physical survival. However, the weight of other arguments is growing:

    - The influence of friends and relatives moving abroad increased from 31% to 38%.

    - The importance of quality of life as a reason for leaving increased from 62% to 66%.

### Children as a Risk Factor

The presence of children significantly influences the decision to move, but their age becomes the decisive factor. Parents most often consider leaving if there are children in the family aged 4–6 or 13–17.

Sociologists link this to the desire to ensure safe education for children during key periods: before starting school or before entering higher education institutions.

### Pessimism and the Search for Compromise

Against the backdrop of declining migration sentiments, anxiety about the country's future is growing. Almost half of the respondents (45%) are convinced that the situation in Ukraine is developing in the wrong direction. Only 36% of respondents positively assess the current development vector.

Citizens name the war (88%) and corruption in state institutions (74%) as the main internal problems. Forecasts for the end of the conflict have become gloomier: 43% of Ukrainians believe that active hostilities will last for many more years, and another 34% cannot predict when they will end.

Under these conditions, support for diplomatic ways of resolving the conflict is growing. 57% of respondents support the search for a compromise, and 66% approve of holding negotiations. At the same time, 67% of respondents consider the negotiation scenario the most realistic way to achieve peace.