Former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov tops Ukrainian trust poll, overtaking President Zelensky
A Rating Group poll conducted on 20‑21 July 2026 shows former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov now enjoys the highest level of public trust among Ukrainian leaders, with 65 % support. His rating jumped from 35 % a week earlier, coinciding with widespread protests after his dismissal on 16 July.
President Volodymyr Zelensky fell to fourth place with 59 % trust, while former army commander Valeriy Zaluzhnyi leads the chart at 70 % and intelligence chief Kirill Budanov is third at 62 %. Seventy‑two percent of respondents said they opposed Fedorov’s removal, and 5 % supported it.
The poll also explored hypothetical presidential voting: 22.3 % would back Zelensky in a first round, 14.9 % Zaluzhnyi, and 13.4 % Fedorov. The results underline shifting political dynamics ahead of any upcoming elections.