Under the auspices of the Geoproject program, which the Public Opinion Foundation has been conducting for almost half a year, respondents have yet to be asked questions concerning countries that formerly were part of the USSR. It would be interesting to find out what Russians think about their neighbors, such as Ukraine.

Respondents were asked the question: "PLEASE DESCRIBE IN A FEW WORDS THE ASSOCIATIONS YOU FEEL WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD 'UKRAINE'?" 72% of those surveyed agreed to describe their associations. Russians were likely to say that Ukraine is an independent country ("it is independent from Russia, one of the former Soviet republics"; "it is a country near Russia"; "abroad"; "the near abroad") - 10%.

Second place goes to associations with Ukraine as a brotherly and friendly country ("they are part of Russia's crowd"; "Russia and Ukraine are like sisters"; "sister republics"; "Slavs") - 9%.

When Ukraine is mentioned, some respondents feel regret for the severance of relations ("it is pity that Ukraine is not with Russia"; "unfortunately, Ukraine is now abroad "; "I feel a heavy heart for the separation of Ukraine") - 8%.

7% of those surveyed spoke about relations between Russians and Ukrainians ("my granny and dad are from there"; "my army friends"; "my mom lives there"; "it's my second fatherland, because I'm Ukrainian").

7% of respondents mentioned that Ukraine has low living standards ("they lack well-being"; "it is a poor country"; "their country is poorer than our country").

When the word «Ukraine» is mentioned, 5% of respondents recall the growing political crisis there ("there is no agreement in their government"; "a scandal between the president and the opposition"; "a disorder in the power structures").

According to 4% of respondents, there is beautiful nature, a good climate, as well as resorts in Ukraine ("a beautiful place, white houses, fields, and plains"; "there is a beautiful nature, Gogol's places"; "warm subtropics"; "a resort"; "a good place to rest").

3% of those surveyed «scored up» the conflicts between the two countries ("opponents"; "they dislike Russians"; "they've always had a negative attitude towards Russia"; "Western-oriented, an unfriendly attitude to Russia"; "we will always be Muscovy for them").

2% of Russians associate the word «Ukraine» with the word «debtor» ("a big debtor to Russia"; "they don't pay for our gas"; "they depend on Russians, as before").

Respondents recalled the Crimea, regretting that it doesn't belong to Russia anymore, the Chernobyl disaster, as well as the historical past: the Kievan Rus, Bogdan Khmelnitsky, the Great Patriotic War, and fighting against bandits (1% each).

And according to 1% of respondents, Ukraine is a wealthy country with good living standards .

We should note that Russians spoke a good deal about Ukrainians and the qualities of their national character – with both sympathy and antipathy ("beautiful, hard-working, and cheerful people"; "kind-hearted people"; "hospitable people"; "corrupted topknots"; "terrible people"; "they are stingy and insolent"; "sly and tricky") - 6%.

As for traditions and customs, as well as typical goods, 5% of those surveyed recalled "the Ukrainian vodka «Gorilka» and sala," "galushky," "their national dances," and "Ukrainian songs."