Recent Ukrainian opinion polls reveal a significant increase in public support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with 65% of Ukrainians trusting their president. This shift in attitudes towards Zelenskyy is the first recorded since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
Ukrainian Opinion Polls Reveal Shift in Public Support for Volodymyr Zelenskyy**
Recent Trends Indicate Growing Approval of Ukrainian President
While the US and Russia have labeled Ukraine‘s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as illegitimate and unpopular, recent opinion polls suggest a shift in public support. According to these surveys, Zelenskyy has experienced a significant increase in popularity over the past few months.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician and actor who served as the 6th President of Ukraine from 2019 to present.
Born on January 25, 1978, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, he rose to prominence after starring in the popular TV show 'Servant of the People.'
Zelenskyy's presidential campaign focused on anti-corruption and reform, which resonated with Ukrainian voters.
He has since become a key figure in Ukraine's response to the 2022 Russian invasion.
The latest survey conducted by Rating Group, an independent Ukrainian research organization, reported that 65% of Ukrainians trust their president. This figure stems from a study involving 1,200 participants published last weekend. The results also indicate that one-third of respondents trusted Zelenskyy completely, one-third somewhat, and one-third did not trust him at all.
As of 2023, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's approval ratings have fluctuated throughout his presidency.
According to a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), in February 2022, his approval rating stood at 83%.
However, as the war with Russia intensified, his ratings declined, reaching a low of 47% in June 2022.
By December 2022, his approval rating had increased to 62%, suggesting a rebound in public support.
Notably, this positive trend in attitudes toward Zelenskyy is the first recorded since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, in February 2022. In November 2024, his approval rating hovered around 53%, increasing slightly to 57% earlier in 2025.
Comparison with Previous Surveys and Criticisms
The sociological research organization Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) also conducted a survey among 1,000 respondents, finding slightly lower support for Zelenskyy. According to its results, some 57% of Ukrainians trusted Zelenskyy in early February, with an average support rate across all regions just over 50%.
This survey was criticized by Elon Musk and other Trump supporters, who claimed that KIIS was biased due to funding from USAID. However, Anton Hrushetskyi, executive director of KIIS, denies any bias, pointing out that the institute carried out the survey on its own initiative.
Experts’ Insights on Short-Term Effects and Long-Term Trends
Hrushetskyi also noted that trust in Zelenskyy’s decisions is actually higher than his overall trust rating by several percentage points. He attributed this to short-term effects, stating that people tend to have a positive perception of the president when he speaks at international events or seeks support from the West.
However, Hrushetskyi emphasized that domestic politics can quickly change public opinion, citing issues like corruption and mobilization as examples. This highlights the challenges in accurately measuring shifts in attitudes among Ukrainians living under martial law.
Limitations and Challenges
Conducting surveys in occupied territories is difficult due to safety concerns and limited access to mobile services. Furthermore, determining shifts in opinions among those living in Russian-occupied regions is challenging. As Olexiy Haran, professor of comparative politics at the University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, noted, it’s unlikely that these people could participate in an election, making their opinions less impactful on the president’s legitimacy.
Additionally, millions of Ukrainian refugees dispersed across the European Union (EU) and elsewhere were underrepresented in polls. However, Haran found that their trust in individual politicians or institutions barely deviated from figures polled within Ukraine. Notably, these refugees are losing interest in Ukrainian politics, with one-third indicating they would no longer participate in possible elections.
Putin’s Comments on Zelenskyy’s Approval Rating
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also weighed in on Zelenskyy’s apparent approval rating. ‘It doesn’t really matter how much support he has, whether it’s 4% or whatever,’ Putin said in a recent interview. However, experts have found that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy usually scores higher approval rates when speaking on foreign policy in an international setting.
Vladimir Putin was born on October 7, 1952, in Leningrad, Soviet Union.
He graduated from the Leningrad State University with a degree in international law.
Putin served as a KGB officer in East Germany before returning to Russia and entering politics.
He became Prime Minister in 1999 and President in 2000, serving two consecutive terms until 2008.
Putin returned to power in 2012 and has since been re-elected twice.
He is known for his authoritarian leadership style and has been criticized for human rights abuses and suppression of dissent.
Hrushetskyi finds it mistaken to draw comparisons with other potential candidates, such as former commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who has not declared any political ambitions. The expert noted that military personnel can potentially draw votes away from other candidates, distorting the results of opinion polls.
