The willingness of Ukrainians to fight for their own country on the eve of the 2022 Russian invasion

ABSTRACT The study attempts to explain the determined resistance of Ukrainians to Russia’s aggression based on empirical data from a survey of Ukraine’s population obtained on the eve of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The willingness to resist has been determined by societal identity, which combines pro-Western orientations and Ukrainian-speaking identity. At the same time, factors of regional affiliation and linguistic behavior were not found to have influence. An indicator that ranks respondents’ possible reaction to the war showed the differentiated nature of Ukrainians’ willingness to resist. The willingness to engage in various types of struggle was conditioned by distinct gender roles and socioeconomic resources. This explains the comprehensive scope and mass character of Ukrainian resistance to the war. The societal will to fight was manifested among the Ukrainian military and spread to civilians.