MiG-31K takeoffs are paralyzing the nation, Ukrainians split on how to respond – survey
Half of Ukrainians (51%) advocate for a consistent declaration of air alarms during takeoffs of potential carriers of Kinzhal missiles on MiG-31K, according to a recent survey conducted by the Rating sociological group on Nov. 22-23, while 40% believe it should be contingent on the specific situation and perceived threat.
Notably, less than 5% of Ukrainians oppose declaring an alarm, while 59% of surveyed Kyiv residents support sounding an alarm during MiG-31K takeoffs based on the perceived threat.
Rating also polled Ukrainians on how high they perceive the threat of a missile strike on their locality. According to the results, about a third of Ukrainians assess it as high, with the highest percentage among Kyiv residents (57%), as well as in the frontline and de-occupied territories (around 42%).
Only 10% consider the possibility of military actions in their city highly probable. That number is doubled in the de-occupied and frontline regions, where 20% hold this view.
The survey was conducted among Ukrainian residents aged 18 and above in all regions, except for the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions, as well as areas where Ukrainian mobile communication was not available at the time of the survey.
A total of 1,000 respondents were interviewed via telephone interviews using a computerized random selection of mobile phone numbers.
The MiG-31K is a modification of the Russian MiG-31 fighter, equipped with the capability to deploy the hypersonic Kinzhal missile. Recently, air alerts linked to MiG takeoffs have extended to three or four hours, as occupiers have begun to practice mid-air refueling.
During a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff on Nov. 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed the Defense Ministry, General Staff, and Cabinet of Ministers to propose solutions to prevent Kinzhal carrier takeoffs from paralyzing the country for hours.
Ukrainian Radio reported on Nov. 22, citing Air Force command spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat, that notifications for Ukrainians during the takeoff of the Russian MiG-31 would not change. The Air Force has not yet received instructions on how to notify the population in the event of fighter takeoffs.
The Air Force stated on Nov. 23 that Ukrainian Radio had “distorted the comment,” leading to a “mutation of news.” In the statement, they emphasized that Ihnat focused on how the Air Force would alert about threats and did not state that there would be no changes in the notification system.
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