Generals outrank Zelensky in SOCIS trust ranking
SOCIS poll finds former army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi most trusted; Zelensky placed sixth with low full-trust shares.
A recent survey by the SOCIS research group shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky placed sixth in a public trust ranking released after mass protests triggered by the removal of a defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov. The poll found only 18% of respondents said they "completely" trust Zelensky, while a further 24.5% said they "somewhat" trust him; 17% said they had little trust and 37% said they did not trust him at all. ([interfax.com.ua](https://interfax.com.ua/news/political/1154559.html?utm_source=openai))
At the top of the list is Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and now Ukraine's ambassador to the United Kingdom, whom 37.1% of those surveyed said they "completely" trust. He is followed in the ranking by Mykhailo Fedorov in second place and Robert Bovdi, commander of Ukraine's drone forces, in third. ([interfax.com.ua](https://interfax.com.ua/news/political/1154559.html?utm_source=openai))
Generals and security officials outpace civilian leadership
The poll also places Mykhailo Drapati — named as the new supreme commander of the Ukrainian armed forces in the survey's reporting — in fourth place. Kyrylo Budanov, head of the presidential office and former director of military intelligence, also ranks above Zelensky. Observers say the pattern underlines continued high public esteem for military figures amid the war. ([interfax.com.ua](https://interfax.com.ua/news/political/1154559.html?utm_source=openai))
Respondents answered amid a wave of protests that followed leadership changes at the defence ministry, and the survey results point to a widening trust gap between Ukraine's uniformed commanders and some civilian officials. Polling firms caution that such snapshots can shift quickly in times of political turmoil. ([en.interfax.com.ua](https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1154537-amp.html?utm_source=openai))
The SOCIS study adds to a string of recent polls showing fluctuating approval and trust levels for Ukraine's top figures as the country manages both an active war and internal political debates over leadership and reform. Analysts say the rankings will be watched closely in Kyiv and abroad because they reflect how military credibility is shaping public expectations during the conflict. ([amp.dw.com](https://amp.dw.com/uk/partii-zaluznogo-ta-budanova-lidiruut-u-simpatiah-ukrainciv-socis/a-76553239?utm_source=openai))
Photo: press material from the event
