Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Gradus presented the second wave of its study conducted in February 2026. The findings show that despite prolonged stress caused by living through war and ongoing Russian attacks on infrastructure, romantic relationships remain an important part of life for most Ukrainians. At the same time, the dynamics of relationships, forms of intimacy, and approaches to celebrating have evolved.

Stable Relationships Have Grown Stronger

As of February 2026, 85% of respondents are in romantic relationships. The lowest share is among young people aged 18–24 (75%), while in older age groups the figure exceeds 80%. This may indicate that forming new relationships has become more challenging for younger people due to migration, instability, and shifting life priorities.

Fifty-seven percent of respondents say the war has strengthened their relationships, highlighting the growing role of partnership as a source of support during a prolonged crisis. At the same time, 74% report that their partner is physically present with them. However, 32% have experienced long-term forced separation, and another 29% short-term separation.

Forming New Relationships Has Become More Difficult

Among those currently not in a romantic relationship, the most common response is that their last relationship ended 2–4 years ago (32%), while 25% separated within the past year. Nearly half of this group believe that the war has made meeting new people and building relationships more difficult, primarily due to overall instability, psychological exhaustion, and limited social interaction. Only 6% report a positive impact of the war on their romantic life.

One in Three Respondents Reports Less Sexual Activity

Seventy-two percent of Ukrainians agree that love provides a sense of stability during wartime, and for 55% the war has accelerated important relationship decisions — including moving in together, marriage, and future planning. At the same time, 34% say physical intimacy has decreased. This may be linked to elevated stress levels, constant anxiety, and forced separations.

Notably, Ukrainians today define relationship quality primarily through its emotional dimension. Over 90% cite emotional closeness, a sense of safety, and mutual care as key elements. Physical intimacy plays a less central role: 65% consider it important (72% among men and 59% among women). This distribution underscores the growing importance of partnership as a source of emotional support, psychological stability, and security amid prolonged uncertainty.

Valentine’s Day: More Celebrations, Fewer Gifts

In February 2026, 40% of Ukrainians plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day — higher than in pre-war 2020 (34%). Growing interest in symbolic dates may reflect a need for emotional stability and “anchors of normalcy” during wartime. Men are more likely to plan celebrations (43% versus 36% among women), while the most active group is young people aged 18–34, more than half of whom see February 14 as a romantic occasion.

At the same time, 55% plan to give gifts — significantly fewer than in 2020 (80%). This reflects more restrained consumption patterns and a shift toward non-material expressions of care.

Among the most popular planned gifts are good food and wine, flowers, shared time together, declarations of love, and romantic dinners. Among material gifts, cosmetics and perfumes, clothing and lingerie, and jewelry lead the list. For those aged 18–24, the most popular gifts include “myself,” Valentine’s cards, and electronics, while in older age groups nearly half (49%) prefer good food and wine as a form of shared time and simple pleasure.

Analysis of gift plans and expectations shows no significant imbalance between what Ukrainians intend to give and what they would like to receive, suggesting realistic mutual expectations within relationships. Emotional gestures are planned slightly more often than they are expected, indicating a willingness to take initiative in caring for a partner. Material gifts demonstrate an even more balanced picture, pointing to pragmatic attitudes and the absence of inflated expectations during wartime.

“Over four years of full-scale war, love for Ukrainians has transformed from a romantic experience into a form of psychological resilience. Today, relationships are less about fleeting emotions and more about safety, support, and shared responsibility for the future. At the same time, the war complicates the formation of new bonds and reduces the desire for physical intimacy. This reflects a profound shift in how partnership is perceived: Ukrainians increasingly value presence and care over demonstrative gestures, and even celebration becomes a way to restore a sense of normalcy,” comments Evgeniya Blyznyuk, sociologist, Founder & CEO of Gradus.

The survey was conducted by Gradus using a self-administered questionnaire in the Gradus mobile application. The target audience included men and women aged 18–60 living in Ukrainian cities with populations over 50,000, excluding temporarily occupied territories and areas of active hostilities. The second wave was conducted on February 6, 2026. Sample size: 1,000 respondents.