--- title: "Stalin in the Mirror of History: Ukrainians Reject the Dictator, Russia Deifies Him" description: "πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦ Stalin in Ukraine: record low support β€” only 7% consider him a \"great leader.\" In Russia β€” 56%. The gap between countries is growing. KIIS survey: decommunization is working. πŸ“‰ #Ukraine #Stalin #KIIS #History #Politics" date: 2026-08-17T09:38:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/stalin-in-ukraine-record-low-support-en tags: [ukraine, stalin, kmi, decommunization, russia, poll, history, politics] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Stalin in the Mirror of History: Ukrainians Reject the Dictator, Russia Deifies Him ![Joseph Stalin speaking into a microphone, symbolizing his dictatorial power which elicits polarized views in Ukraine and Russia](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/17/stalin-v-ukraine-rekordno-nizkaya-podderzhka/stalin-v-ukraine-rekordno-nizkaya-podderzhka-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Only 7% of Ukrainians consider Stalin a "great leader" β€” a record low figure throughout the history of independence. - In Russia, 56% of citizens support a positive image of Stalin β€” the gap between the countries has reached a maximum. - The attitude toward Stalin in Ukraine has become an indicator of the success of decommunization. - The highest trust in Ukraine is held by Zaluzhnyi (66%) and Fedorov (63%), Zelenskyy β€” 56%. - The majority of Ukrainians do not expect the end of the war before the end of 2026. In 2026, more than thirty years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine and Russia demonstrate diametrically opposite assessments of a key figure of the 20th century β€” Joseph Stalin. According to the latest large-scale survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), the attitude of Ukrainians toward the Soviet dictator has reached a record low throughout the country's independence. Only 7% of respondents consider Stalin a "great leader," while 57% view him negatively. This testifies to a deep transformation of public consciousness and the success of decommunization processes launched in the country in 2014–2015. ### Survey Results: From 39% to 7% The dynamics of Stalin's ratings in Ukraine over the last few decades look like a downward curve. In 1991, immediately after gaining independence, 27% of Ukrainians agreed with the thesis of his greatness. The peak of support came in 2002 β€” then 39% of citizens considered Stalin a great leader. However, with each passing year, this figure steadily declined. By 2026, it dropped to a minimum β€” 7%. At the same time, 62% of respondents either completely or rather disagreed with the statement about Stalin's greatness. Another 31% found it difficult to answer or did not have a clear position. ### Contradictory Data Interestingly, KIIS sociologists note that this is not so much about an increase in the number of Stalin's supporters as a decrease in the categoricity of his rejection. The share of undefined or ambivalent assessments has increased. This may indicate a generational shift: the younger generation, which does not remember the USSR, perceives the figure of Stalin more abstractly than the older generation, which either personally encountered his regime or formed an opinion under conditions of Soviet propaganda. At the same time, in Russia, according to "Levada Center" data for 2026, 56% of citizens consider Stalin a great leader. The gap between the countries became particularly noticeable after 2016 β€” it was then that a rapid growth of negativity began in Ukraine and the conservation of a positive image in the RF. ### Personal Perception and Public Trust Sociologists also investigated the personal perception of Stalin by Ukrainians. Only 3% of respondents evaluate him positively, almost a third (27%) react indifferently. A negative attitude was expressed by 57%, and 10% found it difficult to answer. Such a result confirms that for most Ukrainians, Stalin is a symbol of repression, terror, and totalitarianism, not a "builder of industry" or "victor in the war." In parallel with this, KIIS found out which public figures Ukrainians trust the most in 2026. The highest level of trust is held by former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi (66%) and former Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov (63%). President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is trusted by 56% of citizens β€” an indicator that remains stable but is lower than that of military leaders, reflecting the priority of security in public consciousness. ### Expectations of the End of the War and Political Context It is important to note that these data were obtained in the context of the ongoing war. According to another KIIS survey, only one in five Ukrainians allows for the completion of hostilities before the end of 2026. The majority expects the end of the war no earlier than the second half of 2027. This creates a special atmosphere in society: people tend to seek support in figures associated with the defense of the country, rather than in historical characters associated with internal terror. Thus, the low rating of Stalin is not just a historical fact, but a reflection of the current political and social climate, where the value of life and freedom is placed above "greatness" at any cost. ### Conclusion: Decomunization as Success The authors of the study believe that in Russia, Stalin has effectively become a national hero β€” a symbol of power, order, and victory, despite the price the people paid. In Ukraine, however, the attitude toward the dictator is an indicator of the success of decommunization processes. Society does not just reject him β€” it reinterprets history, separating myths from reality. This is a complex but necessary stage in the formation of a national identity based on human rights, democracy, and memory of the victims of totalitarianism. In 2026, Ukraine takes another step forward β€” casting aside the shadows of the past to build the future. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What percentage of Ukrainians consider Stalin a "great leader" in 2026? **A:** Only 7% of Ukrainians consider Stalin a "great leader" β€” this is a record low figure throughout the history of Ukraine's independence. ### Q: How has the attitude toward Stalin in Ukraine changed since 1991? **A:** In 1991, 27% of Ukrainians considered Stalin a great leader, the peak came in 2002 (39%), and by 2026 the figure dropped to 7%. ### Q: What do the data say about Russia? **A:** According to "Levada Center" data for 2026, 56% of Russians consider Stalin a great leader β€” the gap with Ukraine has reached a maximum. ### Q: Who do Ukrainians trust the most in 2026? **A:** The highest trust is held by Valerii Zaluzhnyi (66%) and Mykhailo Fedorov (63%), President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is trusted by 56%. ### Q: When, according to Ukrainians, will the war end? **A:** Only one in five Ukrainians allows for the end of the war before the end of 2026. The majority expects the end of hostilities no earlier than the second half of 2027.