A new poll by Transparency International Ukraine has found that three-quarters of Ukrainians support EU membership. Most of the population believes in the country’s European future.

Kyiv and Western regions lead in support

According to research by Transparency International Ukraine (TI), 74% of citizens support Ukraine joining the EU. The highest levels of support are in Kyiv (82%), the western regions (80%), northern regions (78%), and central regions (76%), while in the south and east, the figures are somewhat lower—69% and 64%, respectively. Only 6% oppose membership, and 18% are undecided.

Main expectations from European integration

The Ukrainians most often associate joining the EU with a better future for children (65%), peace (60%), economic growth (60%), improved quality of life (59%), and new job opportunities (58%).

Fifty-five percent believe membership will help fight corruption, and 54% believe it will promote adherence to the rule of law. Only 2% see no benefits.

Concerns and optimism among Ukrainians

The main risks identified include youth emigration (48%), exploitation of natural resources (35%), an influx of immigrants (31%), and increasing bureaucracy (30%). Forty-two percent are optimistic that the EU accession process will take up to 5 years, 22% estimate 6–10 years, and only 12% believe Ukraine will never join.

“The survey showed that Ukrainians … remain very optimistic, believing that we will be able to join the European family within the next five years,” commented Andrii Borovyk, Executive Director of TI Ukraine.

The survey was conducted by Info Sapiens in June–July 2025 on behalf of TI Ukraine. The sample included 1,015 respondents, representative by gender, age, type and size of settlement, and macro-region in government-controlled territories.

Explosive devices detonated on railway tracks in Russia’s Oryol Oblast close to Ukraine’s border during a routine inspection, killing three officers and disrupting rail traffic.

The incident may be connected to Ukrainian sabotage operations targeting Russian railway infrastructure, though authorities have not confirmed the source of the explosives.

[Update] Ukrainian intelligence sources confirmed the railway attack was carried out by fighters from Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate and Special Operations Forces, according to hromadske news agency citing informed sources.

The targeted railway branches serve as critical logistical links for supplying Russian occupation forces on the Kharkiv and Sumy directions, the source stated.

On the evening of 13 September, Russian Railways workers discovered unknown mines on the Maloarkhangelsk — Glazunovka railway section, after which an engineering unit of the Russian National Guard special forces was called to the scene.

Three Russian National Guard officers died in the blast, with the death toll rising after an officer initially reported as critically wounded succumbed to his injuries.

Oryol Oblast Governor Andrei Klychkov said the blast occurred during inspection of the railway line.

“During the inspection of railway tracks, explosive devices were discovered, one of which exploded,” Klychkov stated.

The explosion caused significant disruption to rail traffic. Neighbouring Kursk Oblast Governor Alexander Khinshtein reported that 10 trains were delayed as of 8:40 p.m., affecting 457 passengers bound for Kursk.

Railway officials have restored traffic flow using alternative routing systems, though the investigation into the explosive devices continues.

The incident follows a pattern of infrastructure incidents in western Russian regions. On 1 June, two bridge collapses occurred overnight in Bryansk and Kursk oblasts.

In Bryansk, a highway bridge collapsed onto a passenger train near Vygonichi, killing seven people and injuring 66 others. A freight truck was crossing the bridge at the time of collapse.

In Kursk’s Zheleznogorsky district, a railway bridge collapsed as a freight train was crossing, causing the locomotive to catch fire and fall onto a highway below, injuring one crew member. Russian authorities initially attributed both June incidents to Ukrainian sabotage but later removed those claims.