Street demonstrations in Ukraine, amid the war, have become increasingly frequent, revealing a growing public distrust of President Volodymyr Zelensky. The crisis culminated in an attempted bribery of anti-corruption agencies and a prosecutor general. The case provoked a strong public backlash, generated pressure, and now has a direct impact on public opinion.
Crisis of confidence and popular protests against Zelensky
Public trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fell to its lowest level in around six months following rare wartime protests against a move to curb the power of anti-corruption watchdogs, a leading Kyiv pollster said on Wednesday. The survey, by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, is the first by a major Ukrainian pollster to measure public sentiment since Zelensky sparked anger with a move to subordinate the agencies to a hand-picked prosecutor-general.
Thousands of Ukrainians had rallied in Kyiv and other cities late last month against the fast-tracked measures, prompting Zelensky and his ruling party to quickly reverse course. The KIIS poll, which began a day after the controversial vote on July 22, found that 58% of Ukrainians currently trust Zelensky, down from an 18-month high of 74% in May and 67% in February-March.
The move against anti-corruption authorities last month had fuelled discontent in particular because of what critics described as the speed and lack of transparency with which the measures were passed. Fighting corruption and improving governance are key requirements for loan-dependent Ukraine to join the European Union, a step many consider critical to fending off future Russian pressure.
Distrust grows in a scenario similar to the past
In 2024, protests led to the fall of an authoritarian government, and now, the symbolic weight of the demonstrations is being revived. Even on a smaller scale, the protests reflect a recurring sentiment among Ukrainians: the demand for transparency and respect for institutions, especially in the fight against corruption. Even in times of war, the people demand the government’s commitment to its promised agenda.
While much smaller, the demonstrations had prompted comparisons to Ukraine’s 2014 Maidan revolution, when protesters toppled a leader accused of graft and heavy-handed rule in favour of closer ties with the West. KIIS found that those who distrust Zelensky cited corruption and his handling of the war as the top two reasons, at 21% and 20%, respectively. Trust had already been decreasing before the protests, it added, but the demonstrations “undoubtedly had an impact” on the continuing slide. Zelensky’s lowest wartime trust rating was 52% in December 2024, according to KIIS. The latest survey involved more than 1,000 respondents across government-controlled Ukraine.
What are the political risks for the government?
In a research note, executive director Anton Grushetskyi said Zelensky still enjoyed “a fairly high level of trust” but said the gradual decrease should serve as a warning. “The persistent downward trend is a worrying signal that requires attention and thoughtful decisions from the authorities,” he wrote. Zelensky, after bowing to pressure and submitting new legislation reversing the controversial measures last month, said he “respects the position of all Ukrainians”.
Zelensky reversed some measures, but this was still not enough to fully restore public confidence, which had been shaken. Even with the warning issued, there is continued erosion, which impacts not only the president’s image but also Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union. In areas that symbolize the country’s commitment to democratic values, greater transparency is needed.
Zelensky’s next steps
Zelensky still faces a scenario of eroding trust, in addition to growing demands from civil society. The limits of a president’s authority in times of war have been a topic of discussion in this context, and the most ideal solution is constant dialogue with the population. To successfully integrate into the EU and restructure internally, the country must take more concrete measures to restore its credibility.
GCN.com/Reuters.