What is it about?
This study looks at why some Ukrainians chose to collaborate with Russian forces during the war. By interviewing people convicted of collaboration and analyzing their personalities, the researchers found three major reasons: practical survival needs, adapting to a new reality, and fear for personal and family safety. The study also showed that people’s personalities played a role—some were more agreeable, impulsive, or resistant to change. Based on these patterns, the study groups collaborationists into three types: "People Pleasers," "Entrepreneurial Opportunists," and "Ideological Opponents." Understanding these differences can help design better programs to support social reintegration and prevent future collaboration.
Featured Image
Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This study is among the first to scientifically investigate the motivations and personality traits of individuals who collaborated with Russian forces during the ongoing war in Ukraine. Unlike previous historical studies focused on World War II, this research analyzes contemporary collaborationism through psychological profiling and real-world probation data. It introduces a new three-type classification of collaborationists based on personality and motivation factors, which can guide more targeted social reintegration efforts. Given the urgent need to understand and address collaborationist behavior in Ukraine’s national recovery, this study offers both timely insights and practical tools for policy-makers, probation officers, and researchers.
Perspectives
Working on this article was both intellectually challenging and emotionally significant for me. As someone deeply invested in understanding the human dimensions of conflict, I felt it was crucial to go beyond political judgments and look closely at the psychological and motivational factors that drive collaboration. In a time of national trauma, it can be tempting to view collaborationists simply as traitors, but my aim was to uncover the more complex human stories behind their decisions. I hope this research helps not only academics but also practitioners who must work with these individuals in the real world. Above all, I believe that understanding—even of uncomfortable realities—is a necessary step toward healing and rebuilding trust in society.
Dr. Vitalii Shymko
Pereyaslav-Xmel'nyc'kyj derzhavnyj pedahohichnyj universytet imeni Hryhoriya Skovorody
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Exploring the Motivations and Personality Traits of Pro-Russian Collaborationists in Ukraine, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, April 2024, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0306624x241240707.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
