If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately or catching snippets of international news, you might think Volodymyr Zelensky’s political life is hanging by a thread. There’s a lot of noise out there. Honestly, some of it is flat-out fabrication—like the bizarre claim that his support has bottomed out at 4%. That’s just not true. But the real story of the ukraine zelensky approval rating is actually more interesting than the propaganda. It’s a story of a nation that is tired, a leader who is no longer a "superhero" but a human politician, and a population that is starting to think about what happens after the smoke clears.
Let’s look at the numbers. They aren't as simple as a single "thumbs up" or "thumbs down."
The "Rally Around the Flag" Effect is Fading
In the first few months of 2022, Zelensky’s approval was basically astronomical. We’re talking 90% in some polls. It was the ultimate "rally around the flag" moment. But wars are long. They are exhausting. By mid-2024, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) saw trust dip to 59%.
As of early 2026, the data shows a stabilized but complicated picture. Most reliable surveys, including recent data from Gallup and KIIS, place his general trust rating around 60% to 67%.
That's still incredibly high for a democratic leader. Think about it. Most Western leaders would give anything for a 60% approval rating after four years in office, let alone four years of total war. However, there’s a huge "but" here. While people trust him to lead the war, their desire to keep him in power after the war is a different story.
Why the Numbers are Shifting
It’s not just "war fatigue." That’s a lazy explanation. There are specific, domestic reasons why the ukraine zelensky approval rating has moved from the "mythical hero" zone back down to "regular politician" territory.
- Anti-Corruption Friction: In late 2025, Zelensky signed a bill that many felt weakened anti-corruption bodies. In Ukraine, corruption isn't just a political talking point; it's a matter of national survival. When people feel like the old "system" is creeping back in, they get angry.
- The "Zaluzhnyi" Factor: You can’t talk about Zelensky’s popularity without talking about Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Even after being moved to a diplomatic role in the UK, the former Commander-in-Chief remains a massive figure. In hypothetical "if an election happened tomorrow" polls, Zaluzhnyi often ties with or even beats Zelensky.
- Economic Reality: The economy is on a permanent war footing. Prices are up. People are struggling. Even if you don't blame the president for the Russian invasion, you eventually start blaming the government for the cost of eggs.
The Massive Gap Between "Trust" and "Re-election"
Here is the nuance that most news outlets miss. There is a giant gap between trusting Zelensky to manage the defense of the country and wanting him to be the president of a peacetime Ukraine.
Recent 2025 and early 2026 polling suggests that while over 60% trust him today, only about 20% to 25% of Ukrainians say they would definitely vote for him in a future election. People are essentially saying: "Thanks for getting us through the fire, but we might want someone else to build the house."
It’s a bit like Winston Churchill. He was the indispensable leader during World War II, but as soon as the war ended, the British public voted him out. Ukrainians seem to be preparing for a similar pivot. They want a "War President" for the war and a "Recovery President" for the peace.
The 4% Myth and Information Warfare
We have to address the elephant in the room: the claim that Zelensky’s approval is at 4%. This number started circulating in early 2025, largely pushed by foreign political figures and amplified by Russian state media. It’s a total fabrication.
Even the most critical internal Ukrainian polls—conducted by groups like the Razumkov Centre or Sotsys—don't show anything that low. The lowest "vote intention" figures for Zelensky in a crowded field of candidates still hover around 16-20%. The 4% figure isn't data; it's a weapon designed to make the Ukrainian government look illegitimate to Western donors.
What This Means for 2026
So, what’s the bottom line? Zelensky isn't the untouchable icon he was in 2022. He’s a president facing real domestic criticism. People are frustrated with the slow pace of the front lines and the persistent issues with the bureaucracy.
But—and this is a big "but"—the majority of the country still believes he has democratic legitimacy. About 80% of Ukrainians agree that he should remain in power until the war ends. The "no elections during war" sentiment is still the dominant view, with over 60% of people saying it’s the wrong time for a ballot box.
Basically, the country has a "contract" with him. He stays, he leads, he finishes the job. But the moment the war ends, that contract is up for a very serious renegotiation.
How to Track This Moving Forward
If you want to stay genuinely informed about the ukraine zelensky approval rating without falling for the propaganda, keep these steps in mind:
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- Watch the "Balance of Trust": Don't just look at the "Approve" number. Look at the "Distrust" number. If distrust climbs above 45%, that’s when a real political crisis starts.
- Follow KIIS and Razumkov: These are the gold standards for Ukrainian polling. They have the most robust methodologies for reaching people during a war.
- Distinguish between Trust and Voting: A person can trust Zelensky to handle the military but still want to vote for someone else to handle the economy. Most "Zelensky is failing" headlines conflate these two very different things.
- Check the "Elections" Sentiment: As long as 60%+ of Ukrainians say "no elections during war," Zelensky’s position is stable, regardless of what his personal approval rating is.
The reality of Ukrainian politics is messy, loud, and incredibly resilient. It's not a dictatorship, and it's not a unified monolith. It’s a democracy under fire, and the shifting approval ratings are just proof that the democratic heart of the country is still beating.