Kyiv – August 8, 2025: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is facing a noticeable decline in public support following a recent corruption controversy that has rattled both domestic and international confidence in his leadership.
According to a new poll released by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), Zelensky’s public trust rating has fallen from 65% in June to 58%, signaling a significant shift in sentiment among Ukrainians.
The decline comes in the wake of a scandal uncovered by Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency. While the exact details of the corruption case have not been fully disclosed, the revelations have triggered a political firestorm in Kyiv and cast a shadow over the president’s previously strong reformist image.
Adding fuel to the fire was Zelensky’s decision last month to sign a contentious law that placed the country’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) under the authority of the Prosecutor General. The move sparked public outcry, large-scale protests in major cities, and sharp criticism from Ukraine’s Western allies — particularly the European Union, which has long urged Kyiv to maintain the independence of its anti-graft institutions.
Under mounting pressure at home and abroad, President Zelensky was ultimately forced to walk back the decision, restoring the independence of the two anti-corruption bodies. However, the damage appears to have been done.
Despite his course correction, the KIIS survey shows that 35% of respondents now say they do not trust President Zelensky, a notable increase from previous months.
The poll was conducted between July 23 and August 4, using telephone interviews with a representative sample of 1,022 Ukrainian citizens living in government-controlled territories. Once hailed as a symbol of hope and democratic renewal after taking office in 2019, Zelensky now finds himself navigating not just a war-torn country, but a political landscape growing increasingly complex with trust eroding just when unity may matter most
