Dynamics of the Public Mood of Ukrainians in the Conditions of a Full-Scale Russian-Ukrainian War in 2022–2023 (Exemplified by Vinnytsia Region)

The article is aimed at describing the dynamics of the public mood of Ukrainians in the conditions of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ideological and behavioral attitudes regarding expectations and preparation for the war are demonstrated. Reminiscences on the first days of war are submitted. The peculiarities of life during the war; assessment of the actions of the Ukrainian authorities / Armed Forces of Ukraine on countering the Russian invasion are considered. The formation of a pantheon of heroes; classification of the Russian-Ukrainian war before the full-scale invasion; the place and significance of the Soviet cultural heritage in the processes of national and regional identification, etc. are analyzed. The topic can be considered relevant and perspective both in scientific and public discourses. Since the full-scale Russian invasion influenced the recognition and revision of one’s identity (civil, ethnic, regional, confessional), we share the results of our attempt to develop effective research tools in an interdisciplinary paradigm for the study of cognitive (mental, content-semantic) and behavioral contexts of the public mood of Ukrainians. The research methodology is based on field methods (observation, survey) and sociological methods (statistical, content analysis). An important place in field studies is given to narrative interviews, enabling to get the detailed answers as well as to trace the mechanism of identity construction. The narrative is used to emphasize the value of each informant’s experience and reflects on the fact that practically all Ukrainians have become direct participants of this war. Systematic field studies of the dynamics of various aspects of the Russian-Ukrainian war make it possible to study the causes and consequences of worldview and behavioral attitudes among Ukrainians in general, as well as regional peculiarities in resisting the aggressor, and also highlight this topic in the public space more clearly for the purpose of collective trauma therapy.