War in Ukraine: Firm support for aid and peacekeeping

Four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war remains deadlocked. The destruction wrought on both countries has been stark. According to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Russia suffered 1.2 million battlefield casualties between February 2022 and December 2025, while Ukraine suffered between 500,000 and 600,000 over the same period. CSIS estimates that combined casualties could reach two million by the time this Poll is released.^*

Australian public support for Ukraine has held firm throughout the war. More than eight in ten Australians (83%) say they support the Australian government maintaining strict sanctions on Russia, and seven in ten (70%) say they support providing military aid to Ukraine (down three points from 2025). Three-quarters of Australians support admitting Ukrainian refugees to Australia (75%) and Australia’s participation in a European-led peacekeeping mission in Ukraine (74%), the latter representing a three-point increase in support since last year’s Poll. Those who say they ‘strongly support’ Australia’s participation in a European-led peacekeeping mission in Ukraine increased five points from last year to 35%.