Results of a public opinion poll conducted by the Razumkov Centre Sociological Service on May 23–31, 2023 within the frameworks of the MATRA Programme supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine.
The opinions expressed are those of the authors only and should not be considered as representative of the Embassy’s official position.
The face-to-face poll was conducted in Vinnytsia, Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Transcarpathian, Zaporizhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Ternopil, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi regions and the city of Kyiv (in Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Kherson regions — only in the territories controlled by the government of Ukraine, free of hostilities).
The poll was held using stratified multistage sampling with random selection at the first stages of sampling and quota selection of respondents at the final stage (when respondents were selected on the basis of sex and age quotas). The sample population structure reproduces the demographic structure of the adult population of the territories where the poll was held as of the beginning of 2022 (by age, sex, settlement type).
2020 respondents aged over 18 years were polled. The sample theoretical error does not exceed 2.3%. Meanwhile, additional systematic deviations of the sample might be caused by the consequences of the Russian aggression, in particular, forced evacuation of millions of citizens.
56% of respondents believe that events in Ukraine are developing in the right direction, 22% suggest that events are developing in a wrong direction. In February–March, 2023, these figures equalled 61% and 21%, respectively, and at the end of 2021 (before the full-scale Russian aggression) — 20% and 65.5% (that is, at that time, almost two-thirds of respondents believed that the country was moving in a wrong direction).
43% of Ukrainians believe that Ukraine is able to overcome the existing problems and difficulties within the next few years, the same number (43%) believe that Ukraine will be able to overcome problems in a longer term, and only 5% do not believe that Ukraine can cope with the existing problems (the rest were undecided). In February–March 2023, these figures were 49%, 36%, and 3%, respectively; at the end of 2021 — 18%, 54%, and 18%.
Trust in social institutions
Among state and public institutions, the most trusted are the Armed Forces of Ukraine (93% of respondents trust them), volunteer units (86%), the President of Ukraine (83%), the National Guard of Ukraine (83%), volunteer organizations (82%), the State Emergency Service (80%), the State Border Service (79%), the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (75%), the Security Service of Ukraine (66%), public organizations (61%), the Church (61%), the National Police (59 %), Mayors of the city (township, village) in which the respondent lives (58%), city councils (township, village) in which the respondent lives (55%).
Trust is also expressed more often than distrust in the Ukrainian mass media (respectively, 49% and 37.5%), the Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) (respectively, 46% and 28%), the National Bank of Ukraine (respectively, 46% and 37 %).
The majority of respondents expressed distrust in courts (the judicial system in general) (distrusted by 70%), political parties (69%), the state apparatus (officials) (66%), public prosecutor's office (58%), commercial banks (56%), the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (55%).
Distrust is also expressed more often than trust in the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (49.5% distrust and 27% trust it), the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) (49% and 26.5%, respectively), the Ukrainian Government (49% and 39%, respectively), the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) (49% and 30%, respectively), trade unions (42% and 26%, respectively).
Trust in politicians, officials and public figures
Among politicians, officials and public figures whose credibility was assessed during this study, respondents most often expressed trust in V. Zelenskyy (83.5%), V. Kim (63%), S. Prytula (56%), M. Podoliak (51%).
More trusted than distrusted were V. Klitschko (respectively, 48% and 35%), O. Danilov (46% and 23%), O. Reznikov (43% and 32%), S. Sternenko (28% and 22%), V. Maliuk (26% and 15%, respectively), I. Klymenko (22% and 16%).
The shares of those who trust and those who distrust A. Yermak do not statistically differ (37.5% and 40%).
The majority of respondents do not trust Yu. Tymoshenko (80%), Yu. Boyko (77%), P. Poroshenko (73%), O. Arestovich (65%).
Distrust was expressed more often than trust in D. Arakhamia (46% do not trust and 18% trust him), D. Shmyhal (39% and 36%, respectively), R. Stefanchuk (34% and 27%, respectively).
SURVEY RESULTS IN TABLES
(data in the tables are given as percentages)
Generally speaking, do you think that the events in Ukraine are developing in the right or wrong direction?
|
In the right direction |
55.7 |
|
In a wrong direction |
21.9 |
|
Hard to say |
22.4 |
Do you think that Ukraine can overcome the existing problems and difficulties?
|
It can overcome in the coming years |
43.0 |
|
It can overcome in a more remote future |
43.2 |
|
It can’t |
4.8 |
|
Hard to say |
9.0 |
To what extent to you trust the following social institutes?
|
Fully distrust |
Rather, distrust |
Rather, trust |
Fully trust |
Hard to say |
Balance of trust and distrust* |
|
|
President of Ukraine |
3.6 |
7.7 |
46.3 |
37.0 |
5.4 |
72.0 |
|
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine |
20.4 |
34.8 |
28.8 |
6.1 |
10 |
-20.3 |
|
Government of Ukraine |
15.7 |
33.1 |
33.7 |
5.7 |
11.9 |
-9.4 |
|
State machinery (officials) |
21.9 |
44.5 |
17.4 |
3.3 |
12.9 |
-45.7 |
|
Your city/settlement/village mayor |
10.6 |
21.7 |
44.9 |
13.3 |
9.5 |
25.9 |
|
Your city/settlement/village council |
10.3 |
23.0 |
44.0 |
11.2 |
11.6 |
21.9 |
|
Armed Forces of Ukraine |
1.0 |
2.5 |
19.0 |
74.0 |
3.4 |
89.5 |
|
Ministry of Defence of Ukraine |
5.3 |
11.3 |
35.1 |
40.2 |
8.2 |
58.7 |
|
State Border Service |
3.4 |
9.6 |
31.5 |
47.6 |
7.9 |
66.1 |
|
National Guard of Ukraine |
3.5 |
6.3 |
30.1 |
52.8 |
7.4 |
73.1 |
|
National Police |
9.3 |
21.1 |
36.1 |
23.1 |
10.4 |
28.8 |
|
Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) |
8.1 |
14.2 |
35.1 |
30.5 |
12.0 |
43.3 |
|
State Emergency Service |
5.5 |
7.6 |
29.0 |
51.0 |
7.0 |
66.9 |
|
Prosecutor’s Office |
25.3 |
33.0 |
19.8 |
6.5 |
15.4 |
-32.0 |
|
Courts (the judicial system as a whole) |
34.5 |
35.1 |
13.1 |
3.7 |
13.7 |
-52.8 |
|
National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) |
20.5 |
28.2 |
22.8 |
7.0 |
21.5 |
-18.9 |
|
Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office |
21.6 |
27.9 |
20.9 |
6.3 |
23.3 |
-22.3 |
|
National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) |
21.3 |
27.8 |
20.6 |
5.9 |
24.4 |
-22.6 |
|
Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) |
10.0 |
18.0 |
35.9 |
10.4 |
25.7 |
18.3 |
|
Ukrainian media |
11.2 |
26.3 |
40.3 |
8.6 |
13.6 |
11.4 |
|
National Bank of Ukraine |
10.8 |
26.4 |
39.1 |
6.7 |
17.1 |
8.6 |
|
Commercial banks |
21.1 |
34.6 |
21.9 |
3.7 |
18.6 |
-30.1 |
|
Trade unions |
17.7 |
24.3 |
21.7 |
4.7 |
31.6 |
-15.6 |
|
Political parties |
28.8 |
40.0 |
12.2 |
2.6 |
16.5 |
-54.0 |
|
Public organizations |
6.5 |
18.1 |
50.2 |
10.9 |
14.3 |
36.5 |
|
Church |
8.9 |
15.8 |
39.3 |
21.5 |
14.6 |
36.1 |
|
Volunteer battalions |
2.2 |
5.5 |
39 |
46.9 |
6.4 |
78.2 |
|
Volunteer organisations |
2.6 |
7.1 |
45.3 |
36.4 |
8.6 |
72.0 |
* Difference between trust and distrust
To what extent to you trust the following politicians, officials and public figures?
|
Fully distrust |
Rather, distrust |
Rather, trust |
Fully trust |
Not aware |
Hard to say |
Balance of trust and distrust* |
|
|
Davyd Arakhamia |
20.1 |
25.6 |
15.7 |
2.4 |
19.3 |
16.8 |
-27.6 |
|
Oleksiy Arestovych |
32.2 |
33.1 |
16.5 |
3.8 |
3.6 |
10.8 |
-45.0 |
|
Yuriy Boyko |
61.7 |
15.3 |
4.8 |
1.3 |
8.6 |
8.4 |
-70.9 |
|
Oleksiy Danylov |
9.3 |
14.0 |
32.8 |
13.3 |
17.9 |
12.7 |
22.8 |
|
Andriy Yermak |
18.5 |
21.5 |
26.7 |
10.8 |
7.6 |
15.0 |
-2.5 |
|
Volodymyr Zelenskyy |
4.0 |
7.0 |
33.6 |
49.9 |
0.3 |
5.1 |
72.5 |
|
Vitaliy Kim |
6.3 |
8.4 |
36.9 |
25.8 |
10.6 |
12.1 |
48.0 |
|
Ihor Klymenko |
6.4 |
9.8 |
15.7 |
5.9 |
48.1 |
14.1 |
5.4 |
|
Vitali Klitschko |
12.3 |
22.5 |
37.1 |
11.3 |
1.3 |
15.5 |
13.6 |
|
Vasyl Maliuk |
5.9 |
9.0 |
17.7 |
8.7 |
46.5 |
12.3 |
11.5 |
|
Mykhailo Podoliak |
9.0 |
15.1 |
32.3 |
18.4 |
11.0 |
14.1 |
26.6 |
|
Petro Poroshenko |
46.7 |
26.4 |
13.0 |
4.1 |
0.5 |
9.4 |
-56.0 |
|
Sethiy Prytula |
11.1 |
18.2 |
38.8 |
17.0 |
2.9 |
12.0 |
26.5 |
|
Oleksiy Reznikov |
9.4 |
22.6 |
29.9 |
13.2 |
10.3 |
14.5 |
11.1 |
|
Serhiy Sternenko |
11.4 |
10.3 |
19.4 |
8.8 |
37.3 |
12.9 |
6.5 |
|
Ruslan Stefanchuk |
12.3 |
21.4 |
21.9 |
5.0 |
23.1 |
16.3 |
-6.8 |
|
Yuliya Tymoshenko |
53.9 |
26.5 |
7.2 |
1.5 |
0.6 |
10.3 |
-71.7 |
|
Denys Shmyhal |
15.5 |
23.8 |
28.5 |
7.6 |
5.9 |
18.8 |
-3.2 |
* Difference between trust and distrust
DYNAMICS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS POLLS
Generally speaking, do you think that the events in Ukraine are developing in the right or wrong direction?
|
December 2021 |
September–October 2022 |
December 2022 |
February–March 2023 |
May 2023 |
|
|
In the right direction |
20.3 |
51.0 |
58.9 |
60.6 |
55.7 |
|
In a wrong direction |
65.5 |
27.8 |
23.6 |
21.0 |
21.9 |
|
Hard to say |
14.2 |
21.3 |
17.5 |
18.5 |
22.4 |
Do you think that Ukraine can overcome the existing problems and difficulties?
|
December 2021 |
September–October 2022 |
December 2022 |
February–March 2023 |
May 2023 |
|
|
It can overcome in the coming years |
17.7 |
40.6 |
49.9 |
49.4 |
43.0 |
|
It can overcome in a more remote future |
54.4 |
42.6 |
37.0 |
35.9 |
43.2 |
|
It can’t |
17.6 |
5.2 |
5.1 |
3.4 |
4.8 |
|
Hard to say |
10.3 |
11.6 |
8.0 |
11.3 |
9.0 |
Trust in social institutions
|
July–August 2021 |
February–March 2023 |
May 2023 |
||||||||||
|
distrust* |
trust** |
hard to say |
Balance of trust and distrust*** |
distrust* |
trust** |
hard to say |
Balance of trust and distrust*** |
distrust* |
trust** |
hard to say |
Balance of trust and distrust*** |
|
|
Armed Forces of Ukraine |
24.8 |
68.3 |
6.7 |
43.5 |
2.7 |
95.8 |
1.5 |
93.1 |
3.5 |
93.0 |
3.4 |
89.5 |
|
Volunteer detachments |
33.4 |
53.5 |
13.1 |
20.1 |
6.6 |
87.2 |
6.3 |
80.6 |
7.7 |
85.9 |
6.4 |
78.2 |
|
President of Ukraine |
57.6 |
36.2 |
6.2 |
-21.4 |
11.5 |
82.9 |
5.6 |
71.4 |
11.3 |
83.3 |
5.4 |
72.0 |
|
National Guard of Ukraine |
36.0 |
53.6 |
10.4 |
17.6 |
10.4 |
85.7 |
3.9 |
75.3 |
9.8 |
82.9 |
7.4 |
73.1 |
|
Volunteer organisations |
25.1 |
63.6 |
11.3 |
38.5 |
6.5 |
87.9 |
5.6 |
81.4 |
9.7 |
81.7 |
8.6 |
72.0 |
|
State Emergency Service |
28.7 |
61.4 |
9.9 |
32.7 |
8.8 |
85.4 |
5.8 |
76.6 |
13.1 |
80.0 |
7.0 |
66.9 |
|
State Border Service |
34.3 |
55 |
10.7 |
20.7 |
12.7 |
82.1 |
5.2 |
69.4 |
13.0 |
79.1 |
7.9 |
66.1 |
|
Ministry of Defence of Ukraine |
˗ |
˗ |
˗ |
˗ |
15.0 |
78.1 |
6.9 |
63.1 |
16.6 |
75.3 |
8.2 |
58.7 |
|
Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) |
49.7 |
37.5 |
12.7 |
-12.2 |
18.3 |
74.1 |
7.6 |
55.8 |
22.3 |
65.6 |
12.0 |
43.3 |
|
Public organizations |
37.4 |
47 |
15.5 |
9.6 |
20.1 |
65.8 |
14.1 |
45.7 |
24.6 |
61.1 |
14.3 |
36.5 |
|
Church |
26.3 |
63.5 |
10.3 |
37.2 |
16.9 |
69.7 |
13.4 |
52.8 |
24.7 |
60.8 |
14.6 |
36.1 |
|
National Police of Ukraine |
52.9 |
38.5 |
8.5 |
-14.4 |
22.2 |
71.5 |
6.4 |
49.3 |
30.4 |
59.2 |
10.4 |
28.8 |
|
Your city/settlement/ village mayor |
33.6 |
57.1 |
9.3 |
23.5 |
29.6 |
62.1 |
8.3 |
32.5 |
32.3 |
58.2 |
9.5 |
25.9 |
|
Your city/settlement/ village council |
37.8 |
51.4 |
10.7 |
13.6 |
32.4 |
56.4 |
11.3 |
24.0 |
33.3 |
55.2 |
11.6 |
21.9 |
|
Ukrainian media |
45.8 |
45.4 |
8.9 |
-0.4 |
26.2 |
65.1 |
8.8 |
38.9 |
37.5 |
48.9 |
13.6 |
11.4 |
|
Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) |
40.1 |
31.7 |
28.1 |
-8.4 |
22.7 |
52.3 |
25 |
29.6 |
28.0 |
46.3 |
25.7 |
18.3 |
|
National Bank of Ukraine |
60.1 |
29.1 |
10.9 |
-31.0 |
29.2 |
57.7 |
13.2 |
28.5 |
37.2 |
45.8 |
17.1 |
8.6 |
|
Government of Ukraine |
72 |
21.5 |
6.6 |
-50.5 |
41.4 |
50.0 |
8.5 |
8.6 |
48.8 |
39.4 |
11.9 |
-9.4 |
|
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine |
75.1 |
18.7 |
6.1 |
-56.4 |
51.0 |
41.0 |
7.9 |
-10.0 |
55.2 |
34.9 |
10.0 |
-20.3 |
|
National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) |
69.6 |
15.2 |
15.3 |
-54.4 |
41.5 |
35.1 |
23.4 |
-6.4 |
48.7 |
29.8 |
21.5 |
-18.9 |
|
Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office |
69.3 |
13.6 |
17.2 |
-55.7 |
42.0 |
33.9 |
24.0 |
-8.1 |
49.5 |
27.2 |
23.3 |
-22.3 |
|
National Agency on Corruption Prevention |
69.6 |
13.2 |
17.2 |
-56.4 |
42.6 |
31.7 |
25.8 |
-10.9 |
49.1 |
26.5 |
24.4 |
-22.6 |
|
Trade unions |
54.8 |
21.2 |
24 |
-33.6 |
38 |
30.9 |
31.2 |
-7.1 |
42.0 |
26.4 |
31.6 |
-15.6 |
|
Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine |
71.1 |
17.8 |
11.1 |
-53.3 |
48.0 |
36.8 |
15.3 |
-11.2 |
58.3 |
26.3 |
15.4 |
-32.0 |
|
Commercial banks |
70.7 |
18.2 |
11.1 |
-52.5 |
48.1 |
34.2 |
17.8 |
-13.9 |
55.7 |
25.6 |
18.6 |
-30.1 |
|
State machinery (officials) |
75.7 |
14.9 |
9.4 |
-60.8 |
63.7 |
25.3 |
10.9 |
-38.4 |
66.4 |
20.7 |
12.9 |
-45.7 |
|
Courts (the judicial system as a whole) |
74.2 |
15.5 |
10.4 |
-58.7 |
58.9 |
24.8 |
16.3 |
-34.1 |
69.6 |
16.8 |
13.7 |
-52.8 |
|
Political parties |
71.7 |
16.1 |
12.2 |
-55.6 |
63.3 |
21.7 |
15.0 |
-41.6 |
68.8 |
14.8 |
16.5 |
-54.0 |
* sum total of answers "fully distrust" and "rather, distrust"
** sum total of answers "fully trust" and "rather, trust"
*** Difference between trust and distrust
To what extent to you trust the following politicians, officials and public figures?
|
Distrust* |
Trust** |
Not aware |
Hard to say |
Balance of trust and distrust* |
|
|
Davyd Arakhamia |
|||||
|
February–March 2023 |
38.8 |
26.7 |
18.6 |
15.9 |
-12.1 |
|
May 2023 |
45.7 |
18.1 |
19.3 |
16.8 |
-27.6 |
|
Oleksiy Arestovych |
|||||
|
February–March 2023 |
58.6 |
25.9 |
3.7 |
11.9 |
-32.7 |
|
May 2023 |
65.3 |
20.3 |
3.6 |
10.8 |
-45.0 |
|
Yuriy Boyko |
|||||
|
July–August 2021 |
73.0 |
17.8 |
3.0 |
6.3 |
-55.2 |
|
February–March 2023 |
81.6 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
5.9 |
-75.6 |
|
May 2023 |
77.0 |
6.1 |
8.6 |
8.4 |
-70.9 |
|
Oleksiy Danylov |
|||||
|
July–August 2021 |
43.3 |
11.9 |
36.5 |
8.3 |
-31.4 |
|
February–March 2023 |
19.6 |
54.9 |
15.0 |
10.4 |
35.3 |
|
May 2023 |
23.3 |
46.1 |
17.9 |
12.7 |
22.8 |
|
Andriy Yermak |
|||||
|
July–August 2021 |
58.5 |
10.3 |
22.6 |
8.6 |
-48.2 |
|
February–March 2023 |
36 |
40.6 |
8.1 |
15.3 |
4.6 |
|
May 2023 |
40 |
37.5 |
7.6 |
15 |
-2.5 |
|
Volodymyr Zelenskyy |
|||||
|
July–August 2021 |
61.0 |
32.6 |
0.4 |
6.1 |
-28.4 |
|
February–March 2023 |
9.9 |
84.9 |
0.5 |
4.7 |
75 |
|
May 2023 |
11.0 |
83.5 |
0.3 |
5.1 |
72.5 |
|
Ihor Klymenko |
|||||
|
February–March 2023 |
16.9 |
27.2 |
42.5 |
13.3 |
10.3 |
|
May 2023 |
16.2 |
21.6 |
48.1 |
14.1 |
5.4 |
|
Vitali Klitschko |
|||||
|
July–August 2021 |
64.2 |
25.6 |
0.6 |
9.6 |
-38.6 |
|
February–March 2023 |
27.5 |
57.9 |
1.6 |
13 |
30.4 |
|
May 2023 |
34.8 |
48.4 |
1.3 |
15.5 |
13.6 |
|
Vasyl Maliuk |
|||||
|
February–March 2023 |
14.7 |
24.7 |
49.2 |
11.3 |
10 |
|
May 2023 |
14.9 |
26.4 |
46.5 |
12.3 |
11.5 |
|
Mykhailo Podoliak |
|||||
|
February–March 2023 |
19.2 |
59.5 |
12.1 |
9.2 |
40.3 |
|
May 2023 |
24.1 |
50.7 |
11.0 |
14.1 |
26.6 |
|
Petro Poroshenko |
|||||
|
July–August 2021 |
75.5 |
17.6 |
0.4 |
6.3 |
-57.9 |
|
February–March 2023 |
64.8 |
24.4 |
0.1 |
10.7 |
-40.4 |
|
May 2023 |
73.1 |
17.1 |
0.5 |
9.4 |
-56 |
|
Sethiy Prytula |
|||||
|
July–August 2021 |
56.5 |
21.8 |
8.9 |
12.9 |
-34.7 |
|
February–March 2023 |
21.7 |
65.0 |
2.5 |
10.8 |
43.3 |
|
May 2023 |
29.3 |
55.8 |
2.9 |
12 |
26.5 |
|
Oleksiy Reznikov |
|||||
|
February–March 2023 |
26.0 |
51.3 |
12.1 |
10.5 |
25.3 |
|
May 2023 |
32.0 |
43.1 |
10.3 |
14.5 |
11.1 |
|
Serhiy Sternenko |
|||||
|
March 2021 |
42.7 |
14.9 |
28.4 |
14.1 |
-27.8 |
|
February–March 2023 |
18.0 |
29.2 |
40.9 |
11.9 |
11.2 |
|
May 2023 |
21.7 |
28.2 |
37.3 |
12.9 |
6.5 |
|
Ruslan Stefanchuk |
|||||
|
February–March 2023 |
27.4 |
34.7 |
22.6 |
15.3 |
7.3 |
|
May 2023 |
33.7 |
26.9 |
23.1 |
16.3 |
-6.8 |
|
Yuliya Tymoshenko |
|||||
|
July–August 2021 |
72.2 |
19.9 |
0.8 |
7.2 |
-52.3 |
|
February–March 2023 |
75.7 |
13.2 |
0.7 |
10.4 |
-62.5 |
|
May 2023 |
80.4 |
8.7 |
0.6 |
10.3 |
-71.7 |
|
Denys Shmyhal |
|||||
|
July–August 2021 |
69.1 |
10.6 |
7.7 |
12.5 |
-58.5 |
|
February–March 2023 |
30.2 |
51.6 |
3.7 |
14.5 |
21.4 |
|
May 2023 |
39.3 |
36.1 |
5.9 |
18.8 |
-3.2 |
* sum total of answers "fully distrust" and "rather, distrust"
** sum total of answers "fully trust" and "rather, trust"
*** difference between trust and distrust
