The Ukrainian public's trust in President Volodymyr Zelensky has fallen to its lowest level in about six months, the leading sociological institute in Kiev - KIIS (Kyiv International Institute of Sociology) announced on Wednesday.
The reason is public discontent after the head of state's attempts to limit the powers of anti-corruption institutions by placing them under the control of a prosecutor general appointed by him.
The poll, conducted by KIIS immediately after the controversial vote on July 22, shows that 58% of Ukrainians currently trust Zelensky - a sharp drop from 74% in May and 67% in February-March. The survey is the first large-scale measurement of public attitudes since mass demonstrations in Kiev and other cities sparked by the rapid passage of legislative changes.
Under pressure from the protests, Zelensky and the ruling Servant of the People party quickly withdrew the new measures and announced that they would introduce a law to repeal them. However, according to KIIS analysts, the damage done is already affecting public trust.
The main reasons for distrust are corruption (21%) and war management (20%). Although trust in Zelensky had already begun to decline before the protests, sociologists note that the demonstrations have had an "undeniable impact" on the continuing negative trend.
The lowest trust rating for Zelensky during the war was recorded in December 2024 - 52%.
"Although Zelensky still enjoys a relatively high level of trust, the persistent downward trend is a worrying signal that requires attention and thoughtful decisions from the authorities," commented KIIS CEO Anton Grushetsky.
The country's elections remain frozen for now due to martial law, "Reuters" recalls.