More than half of Ukraine's population continues to trust President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, although sociological data records a certain downward trend in ratings against the backdrop of recent events in the country. This is evidenced by the results of a fresh poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), published by RBC-Ukraine.
According to the sociologists' data, at present, 55% of respondents trust Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the same time, 40% of citizens expressed distrust in the head of state. The net balance of trust and distrust stands at +15%.
Methodology and Dynamics of Indicators
An important aspect of the study was the methodology used. KIIS emphasized that when formulating the question, respondents were not reminded of Zelenskyy's official status as president, nor were other public figures mentioned. This allowed for a more objective picture of personal trust, unrelated to institutional pressure.
Comparison with data from April 2026, when polls were conducted using an identical methodology, shows a decline in the rating. In April, the level of trust in Zelenskyy was 58%, while distrust was 36% (balance +22%). Thus, compared to mid-spring, there is an observed outflow of support.
For context, it is worth noting that in May, the level of trust reached 61%, however, the methodological context differed then: other surnames were read out in the list, reminding respondents of the institutional status of the head of state.
Impact of Personnel Decisions and Protests
Sociologists noted that, despite the predictions of certain politicians and commentators, recent personnel reshuffles and protest sentiments have not led to a catastrophic collapse of trust. Several factors helped neutralize the potential drop in ratings, allowing the president to maintain the support of the majority.
Competition in Trust Ratings
An interesting cross-section of the popularity of public figures in Ukraine was revealed by a recent poll by Rating Group. In this study, Volodymyr Zelenskyy took fourth place with a trust rating of 59% among citizens. The leadership in the rating is firmly held by Valeriy Zaluzhny, whom 70% of respondents trust.
Second place was taken by the former Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, with 65% trust, and third by the head of the GUR, Kyrylo Budanov (62%). These data indicate that in the eyes of the population, the authority of military and law enforcement structures, as well as reformers, remains extremely high, creating stiff competition for the head of state.
