Within a year, public trust in the Ukrainian government has slumped by nearly half, according to data collected by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) and reported by Reuters. The findings highlight a sharp shift in confidence as 2023 closed, with residents reassessing how the state handles crises and governance.
KIIS Executive Director Anton Grushetsky noted that trust in the government declined from 74% in 2022 to 39% at the end of 2023. This substantial drop signals growing skepticism about government performance amid ongoing challenges and policy decisions.
Trust in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, fell even more dramatically. Over the same period, its rating slid from 58% to 21%, underscoring concerns about legislative effectiveness and responsiveness to public needs.
Grushetsky attributed the decline to a combination of corruption scandals and public dissatisfaction with Western military aid, which some residents deem insufficient or misaligned with national priorities. The perception that key institutions have failed to address corruption or adequately manage external support appears to have eroded public confidence.
In another notable development from November 28, sociologists observed a troubling trend: a growing reluctance to embrace patriotic sentiment. Currently, only 25% of Ukrainians believe that all disputes should be settled through conflict resolution, down from 68% in May 2022. The shift suggests a complex recalibration of national identity and public tolerance for continuous confrontation.
These evolving attitudes reflect a broader sense of frustration regarding the ongoing conflict and its impact on daily life, politics, and perception of national resilience. The data point to a population weighing the cost of protracted hostilities against the need for practical governance and stable, transparent leadership. The results emphasize the importance of credible reform efforts, accountability, and effective communication from both government and international partners to restore public confidence. [Source: KIIS via Reuters]