Cultural Crossroads. An Exploration into the Continued Engagement of Ukrainians with Russian Culture: Open Questions and Emotions Analysis

Objective This study aimed to examine the emotional and thematic responses of Ukrainians regarding their engagement or disengagement with Russian culture in the ongoing conflict. The objective was to identify the key emotions and themes driving these cultural interactions and to explore the role of demographic factors such as age and language. Methods A cross-sectional correlational study design involved a sociodemographic questionnaire and an emotional response survey among participants. Open responses were analyzed using thematic categorization facilitated by Chat GPT (v. 4o) and manually checked for appropriateness by the authors. The data were separated into subgroups based on cultural interaction status (engagement versus disengagement). Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and ANOVA were conducted using R (Version 4.2.2). Results The analysis showed that “Generalized Negative Perception” and “Disconnection and Avoidance” were the most frequently mentioned themes among those who disengaged. At the same time “Emotional Response”, “Unspecific or uncertain response” and “Curiosity and Interest” were prominent among those who continued engagement. Emotional responses significantly associated with engagement included interest, nostalgia and aesthetic appreciation while disengagement was linked to emotions such as disdain and contempt. Chi-square tests indicated no significant relationship between thematic categories and demographic variables like age and language. Conclusion Emotional responses are central to how Ukrainians engage or disengage with Russian culture during the conflict. Positive feelings like nostalgia and curiosity lead to continued interaction, as many separate Russian culture from its political context. In contrast, emotions such as disdain and contempt drive disengagement often motivated by a desire to reject associations with the aggressor and affirm national identity. Future research could explore how these emotional patterns shift over time particularly in younger generations or in response to external influences like media or political changes