The number of business leaders who expect a long war with Russia has doubled.

According to a survey of top managers in Ukraine conducted by the Gradus Research agency in 2022, 54% of business leaders expected the war’s end by the end of the next year, and only 38% believed in victory within a year. The share of those who think active hostilities will drag on for years increased from 13% in 2022 to 25% in 2023.

In addition, in 2022 67% of business leaders believed that the war would provide an impetus for Ukraine’s development, and 18% thought that it would lead to a crisis. Currently, only half of top managers see opportunities for growth during the war, and 37% of respondents see the impact of the crisis and exhaustion on the country.

The number one expectation for the government is the fight against corruption, said 55% of respondents. This desire exceeds requests for defensive capability, protection, and security.

“The fight against corruption is also at the top among the actions to restore Ukraine“, analysts noted.