A leading public opinion poll in Kiev said public confidence in President Zelensky had fallen to its lowest level in about 6 months after rare war-time protests against the curbs of anti-corruption watchdog agencies.
The survey conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) is the first survey conducted by a major Ukrainian public opinion survey unit to assess public sentiment since President Zelensky put anti-corruption monitoring agencies under the carefully selected charge of a prosecutor general.
Thousands of Ukrainians demonstrated in Kiev and other cities late last month to protest the accelerated measures, prompting President Zelensky and his ruling party to quickly change their stance.
The KIIS poll, which began a day after the controversial vote on July 22, showed that 58% of Ukrainians surveyed trusted Mr Zelensky, down from an 18-month high of 74% in May and 67% in February-March.
Last month's move against anti-corruption agencies has fueled discontent, especially given what critics described as the speed and lack of transparency in the measures.
Anti-corruption and improved governance are key requirements for Ukraine, which depends on loans, to join the European Union (EU) - a step that many consider important to counter pressure from Russia in the future.
KIIS found that those who did not trust Mr. Zelensky believed that corruption and the way he handled the conflict were the two leading reasons, respectively 21% and 20%.
KIIS added that confidence had fallen before the protests, but the protests certainly had an impact on the continued decline.
According to KIIS, Zelensky's lowest level of trust in the war was 52% in December 2024.
The latest survey involved more than 1,000 respondents across Ukraine.
Anton Grushetskyi, CEO of KIIS, said that President Zelensky still enjoys a "beautiful level of confidence" but said that this gradual decline should be viewed as a warning.
"The continued decline is an worrying signal, requiring attention and cautious decisions from the government," Grushetskyi said.
