Zelenskyy Drops to Fourth in Ukraine Trust Poll as Wartime Leaders Surge

Three of Ukraine's most recognizable wartime figures now command the strongest public confidence, a late-July sociological study found, even as the president's standing lags noticeably behind. According to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, and intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov top the national trust ranking. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy places fourth, trailing the trio in public approval. The survey highlights a shift in public sentiment, with military and technological leaders gaining more trust than the political head of state. Zaluzhnyi, who was dismissed from his military post in early 2024, still retains the highest level of confidence among Ukrainians. Fedorov, known for overseeing the country's digital infrastructure and wartime tech initiatives, and Budanov, head of the Defense Intelligence, follow closely. The KIIS data, collected in the final week of July, reflects the evolving dynamics of leadership perception during the ongoing war. Analysts suggest the results underscore a broader public focus on security, innovation, and battlefield effectiveness over traditional political leadership.