63% Of Ukrainians Won't Buy Products From Brands Who Haven't Left Russian Market: Deloitte

A survey by global consulting firm Deloitte showed that most Ukrainians would not buy products from brands that have not yet pulled out from the Russian market.

According to the 2022 Holiday Retail Survey of Deloitte Ukraine, 63% of the respondents said they would not patronize products from manufacturers that still operate in Russia.

The survey showed that 60% of the Ukrainians plan to spend their holiday shopping budget on helping their Armed Forces and those who suffered from Russian attacks.

The survey also revealed that despite the ongoing war with Russia, Ukrainians would still celebrate Christmas, with 61% of the respondents saying they plan to shop this holiday season. However, Ukrainians prefer to buy fewer goods this year than in 2021.

Based on the survey, most Ukrainians prefer buying essential products this holiday season, such as food, children's products, clothing and footwear.

Forty-nine percent of the Ukrainians said the budget for their holiday shopping ranges from $28 to $137.

The Deloitte retail survey also showed that most Ukrainians prefer in-store shopping in supermarkets and department stores over online stores.

Oleksandr Yampolskyi, the director and head of the Retail and Wholesale Distribution Industry Group of Deloitte Ukraine, said the Ukrainians' perseverance to celebrate the holidays helped the economy amid the war.

"The indomitability of Ukrainians, reflected in their readiness to do holiday shopping in spite of the war, is inspiring, and helps retailers continue supporting the Ukrainian economy," Yampolskyi said.

But because of the uncertainty brought about by Russia's military offensive, most Ukrainians plan to make their holiday shopping in the second half of December, according to Deloitte.

As the war in Ukraine stretches into the Christmas season, many Ukrainians hope they can still celebrate the holidays.

Vitaly Klitschko, the mayor of Ukraine's capital Kyiv, said they would not "let Putin steal our Christmas," CNN reported, citing his interview with Ukrainian news media RBC-Ukraine.

Klitschko said that despite the prohibition of mass events, Christmas trees would be put up across the city so that Ukrainians would still feel the holiday atmosphere.

The Kyiv mayor said the Christmas displays across the city are important to remind the children of the holiday cheer.

On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Russia to stop its hostilities and withdraw its troops from Ukraine this Christmas.

Zelensky said he didn't see any reason for the Russian forces to continue their military offensive into the holidays.