Sociologist and Gradus Research founder Yevheniya Blyznyuk and Pislyazavtra head Iryna Rubis highlighted the trend in an op-ed for NV Business.
Data across four research waves indicated that women have not recovered from the early years of the war, learning instead to function under chronic exhaustion. At the same time, willingness to take on greater responsibility grew from 50% in 2024 to 55% in 2026, while interest in career advancement remained virtually unchanged.
Furthermore, 39% of respondents stated they now value stability over career advancement.
The study also recorded a decline in trust toward support institutions. The share of women relying on free training, as well as employer and state assistance during reskilling, decreased noticeably compared to previous years.
At the same time, 34% of respondents received career opportunities without prior experience, 28% secured them through recommendations, and only 28% stated they achieved them solely through their own efforts.
Another concerning trend shows that 62% of women who faced workplace mistreatment did not report it to management, believing it would change nothing.
The study's authors noted that Ukrainian women have assumed functions that institutions should fulfill, emphasizing that adaptation without recovery merely postpones the impact of accumulated exhaustion.
The research was conducted by Gradus Research between 2023 and 2026 among residents of Ukrainian cities with populations over 50,000. The latest wave surveyed 2,000 respondents.