Public Confidence in Ukraine's Military Leaders
A January survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) reveals that two prominent figures, Kyrylo Budanov and Valerii Zaluzhnyi, share an identical net trust rating of +51% among Ukrainians. This high level of public confidence is a significant asset for national morale during wartime. For Kyrylo Budanov, currently head of the President's Office, 70% of respondents expressed trust, while 19% reported distrust. Budanov's trust rating has surged by nearly 15% since his appointment to this role, compared to June 2023 when he led the Main Directorate of Intelligence and his trust level was 55.3%, according to SOCIS.
Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who now serves as Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, is trusted by 72% of those polled, with 21% expressing distrust. The KIIS survey indicates that Zaluzhnyi's net trust balance also reflects his enduring high standing with the public.
Trust in Other Military Figures
The survey also measured trust in other military leaders. Current Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, is trusted by 46% of respondents, while Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi is trusted by 45%. This places Syrskyi and Biletskyi among the leading military figures in terms of public confidence. The overall results confirm a strong level of trust among Ukrainians toward their military leadership under current conditions.
These findings point to the resilience of public trust in Ukraine's military commanders, a crucial factor for societal cohesion during the ongoing conflict. The perceived reliability and leadership of figures like Budanov and Zaluzhnyi are vital for maintaining public morale and ensuring effective communication between state institutions and citizens. Such high trust levels also underscore public expectations for their role in safeguarding national security and defense.