Rev3Highlights: What are the bad habits that people do in Ukraine?

Thursday, January 09, 2025

Lived in Ukraine Dec 31

Here is a list of bad habits which are from my experience common among Ukrainian people, from bad to worst:

Typical pastime of many older people in Ukraine[1]

Sedentary lifestyle - especially among the older generations, physical movement is seen as a chore not as a natural human need. In most developed countries people of different ages spend their free time hiking, doing sports or riding bikes, but among Ukrainians such activities are less popular, because holidays and weekends are seen as a time for literal rest, not for additional exertion. On their free days people in Ukraine would rather make a picnic or have a drink with friends rather than go biking or take part in a hiking tour.

A queue in a Ukrainian supermarket on the eve of New Year holidays[2]

Unwillingness to make long-term plans and constant desire to improvise - an average Ukrainian person would only plan basic things, leaving all the rest for the fate to decide. Having for centuries lived in an unstable and frequently dangerous social and political environment, Ukrainians know that most predictions will normally turn out to be false, so they don’t bother themselves with creating detailed plans. As a result, many things in Ukraine tend to be done at the last moment and in a hectic manner, which can be well seen before holidays, when people spend hours in traffic jams and form huge crowds in markets to make last-minute purchases.

Drivers leaving their cars on sidewalks due to the lack of available parking place is a common sight in many Ukrainian cities[3]

Disrespect to all things communal. Too many Ukrainians see own personal property as their only responsibility and totally disregard the fact that many things in a society are expected to function as a result of joint effort by citizens. A stereotypical Ukrainian will have a desire to buy a luxurious car, but he will never voluntarily agree to pay road tolls directed to the improvement of highways. The same is true about the cultural sphere, where many people complain about the lack of quality Ukrainian books and films, but at the same time prefer to download media from pirate websites without paying anything to content producers.

A queue in front of a fast food stall in Kyiv[4]

Unhealthy eating habits - many people in Ukraine still see food as a cheap source of energy, without regard to its quality and effects on their health. Fried and fatty foods are commonly preferred over healthier options, and in many cases products such as frying oil get reused several times in order to save money. As a result, unhealthy diets lead to thousands of excess deaths every year.

Aftermath of a car accident in Kharkiv, Ukraine[5]

Recklessness in daily life - industrial accidents and car crashes are among the biggest causes of mortality in Ukraine. Exceeding speed limits, as well as driving without seatbelts or in a drunken state, are quite common among Ukrainian drivers. Despite improvements in police control in recent years, the driving habits of many people in the country are still problematic. At Ukrainian workplaces safety norms are frequently disregarded, which leads to injuries and even deaths among workers. The fact that labour unions in Ukraine usually serve as lobbying instruments for particular politicians and are not interested in really protecting workers’ rights does little to help in improving the situation.

Vodka (horilka) on sale in a Ukrainian supermarket[6]

Excess drinking and smoking - alcohol and tobacco are likely the main causes of increased mortality in Ukraine, especially among men. Consumption of spirits and nicotine are deeply rooted in Ukrainian culture, and in many social groups men who do not drink and smoke are looked down upon, treated with suspicion and considered to be not “manly” enough. Most celebrations in Ukraine are accompanied by consumption of alcohol, and many people start drinking regularly from their school years. Similarly to alcohol, cigarettes in Ukraine are quite cheap and easily available, and in many cases shopkeepers disregard the rules and sell them to underage customers. The majority of heart disease and tumour cases, which are statistically most common causes of death among Ukrainians, can be explained by the effects of alcohol and tobacco consumption.

Footnotes