Active Group poll: 59.1% of Ukrainians associate Zelensky with elite corruption

Sociological company Active Group published the results of a study assessing Ukrainians' attitudes towards corruption in elite circles and trust in anti-corruption bodies. The majority of respondents associate Volodymyr Zelensky with corruption processes in elite circles, yet remain confident in the objectivity of the materials released by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Assessment of the president's involvement in corruption schemes

According to the poll data, 59.1% of Ukrainians believe that the president is involved in corruption in the highest echelons of power. Only 24.8% of respondents are convinced of his non-involvement, while 16.1% could not decide on an answer.

A breakdown of the responses indicates the following distribution of opinions:

• "Definitely yes" — 33.6%;
• "Rather yes" — 25.5%.

Geographical analysis shows a difference in the attitudes of city and rural residents. In megacities, 63.5% of those polled share this view, while in rural areas this figure stands at 49.7%.

Who is responsible for corruption during the war

Among the institutions that Ukrainians consider responsible for the spread of corruption during wartime, the government as a whole, along with ministers, came in first place — so believe 55.0% of respondents. The president was named as responsible for these processes by 49.2% of the poll participants.

The rating of other entities associated with corruption phenomena is as follows:

• heads of security and law enforcement agencies — 42.6%;
• the President's Office — 41.5%;
• Members of Parliament — 30.9%;
• judges — 24.1%;
• business using corruption schemes — 22.1%;
• the parliamentary majority — 18.2%.

Heads of regional and district administrations (14.6%), city mayors (13.5%), and heads of state enterprises (11.2%) received a smaller share of mentions.

The gender and age breakdown shows that men more often point to the president as being responsible for corruption (57.4% versus 42.3% among women). Among people aged 66 and over, this figure reaches 70.7%.

Trust in NABU investigations

The materials released by NABU within the framework of the "Carthage" case investigation (regarding the "protection of fraudulent call centres") elicited a high level of trust. 68.1% of those polled believe them, of whom 22.8% trust them completely, and 45.3% — rather trust them. 21.1% of respondents do not trust the bureau's materials.

Men demonstrate a higher level of trust in the anti-corruption body (76.4%) compared to women (61.2%). In megacities, this figure reaches 75.1%.

Perception of the fight against corruption and openness of discourse

Regarding whether the high-profile anti-corruption cases of recent months indicate a strengthening of the real fight against corruption, public opinion is divided almost evenly. 41.9% of respondents see a strengthening of the fight, 47.2% hold the opposite view, and 10.9% are undecided.

The most sceptics are found among young people aged 18-25: only 32.2% of them believe in a strengthening of the fight. In contrast, among older people (aged 66 and over), 50.7% are already convinced of this.

At the same time, 90.6% of those polled are convinced that suspicions of corruption by the authorities need to be discussed openly even during wartime. 68.1% of respondents choose the option "It is necessary to speak openly", and another 22.5% — "Rather necessary". Only 5.2% of the study participants hold the opposite position.

This view is shared by the majority in every age category: among young people aged 18-25, 80.9% advocated for an open conversation, while among people aged 66 and over — 100%.