Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, once celebrated as a symbol of resistance against Russia’s invasion, now faces a remarkable decline in political support at home, according to a series of recent opinion polls and mounting public sentiment. As the war with Russia drags on into its fourth year, the Ukrainian leader’s political future appears increasingly uncertain, with a growing share of the population signaling a desire for change once the conflict ends.
In a poll released in early October 2025 by a Kiev-based polling agency, Zelensky’s standing in hypothetical presidential matchups has fallen to new lows. When pitted directly against Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, 33% of respondents said they would back Budanov, while 32.5% favored Zelensky—a statistical tie that underscores the president’s waning appeal. The situation looks even more dire for Zelensky when compared to Valerii Zaluzhny, the retired general and current Ukrainian ambassador to the UK. In that scenario, only 26.3% of voters supported Zelensky, while a commanding 42.6% chose Zaluzhny. If Zaluzhny and Budanov were to face off, Zaluzhny would lead with 44.5% of the vote compared to Budanov’s 22%.
The poll also explored a broader first-round scenario with multiple candidates. Zelensky did remain the top choice among decided voters, but his support fell below one-third of the total—an unmistakable sign of weakened political viability. These numbers contrast sharply with the overwhelming public trust he enjoyed at the outset of the war, when his approval ratings soared as high as 90% in some surveys.
The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) published its own poll in mid-October 2025, painting a similarly challenging picture for Zelensky. According to KIIS, 75% of Ukrainians want the president to leave office after the war with Russia concludes. The poll’s analysts noted that while the public is still generally supportive of Zelensky’s wartime leadership—60% of respondents said they trusted him—there is a clear desire for political renewal once peace is restored. For context, Zelensky’s trust rating had reached 90% shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, a dramatic jump from the 37% recorded before hostilities began. But by the fall of 2025, only 25% of Ukrainians said they would be willing to vote him back into office as president, while 41% believed he should remain engaged in politics in some capacity. Notably, 36% said he should leave politics entirely after the war, and 14% wanted him to face criminal prosecution for actions taken during his presidency—though the poll did not specify which offenses they had in mind.
According to The Kyiv Independent, Zelensky’s poll numbers dipped substantially in August and September 2025, following his approval of a controversial bill that weakened Ukraine’s anti-corruption investigative bodies. Zelensky defended the move, arguing that the measure was necessary to root out “Russian influence” from Ukraine’s anti-corruption investigations. Nevertheless, the decision appears to have eroded some of the public trust that had been a hallmark of his tenure since the war began.
International pollsters have observed similar trends. The Gallup organization, which has conducted four national public opinion surveys in Ukraine since the invasion, found Zelensky’s approval at 84% before the war and 67% as of August 2025. While Gallup’s numbers are slightly higher than those reported by KIIS, the organization’s last survey was conducted before the full impact of the anti-corruption bill had been felt. The overall trend is clear: Zelensky’s once sky-high popularity has diminished as the war has dragged on and difficult political decisions have taken their toll.
The question of elections—and Zelensky’s legitimacy—has become a point of contention both inside and outside Ukraine. Zelensky’s presidential term technically expired in 2024, but he continues to govern under martial law, which was imposed following Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian law stipulates that no elections can be held until martial law is lifted, and according to the Ukrainian Constitution, presidential powers should transfer to the parliamentary speaker under such circumstances. Nevertheless, Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out holding elections while the war continues, citing security concerns and the need for national unity.
This legal limbo has fueled criticism from abroad, most notably from Russia, which has labeled Zelensky’s authority as illegitimate. Earlier in 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in, calling Zelensky a “dictator without elections.” Such rhetoric, while politically charged, reflects the broader debate over how Ukraine should balance wartime exigencies with democratic norms.
Despite the mounting pressure, neither Zaluzhny nor Budanov has formally announced political ambitions as of October 2025. Both men have emphasized that their primary focus remains on resolving the ongoing conflict with Russia. Yet, media speculation suggests that Zelensky’s team may be quietly preparing for a possible return to the polls once the war ends, even as the president himself has indicated he would not seek reelection after the conflict concludes.
For many Ukrainians, the prospect of postwar leadership change is both a hope and a source of anxiety. On one hand, the desire for new faces and ideas reflects the country’s democratic aspirations and frustration with the status quo. On the other, the realities of war—and the ever-present threat from Russia—make any transition fraught with risk. As one observer put it, “The nation is grateful for Zelensky’s wartime leadership, but there’s a sense that a new chapter will be needed when the guns finally fall silent.”
Meanwhile, rumors of possible elections before the war ends continue to swirl, though Ukrainian law remains clear: no votes can be held under martial law. Zelensky has repeatedly stated that he would not seek another term, and his allies argue that stability and continuity are essential until the conflict is resolved. For now, Ukraine’s political future remains as uncertain as the outcome of the war itself.
As autumn 2025 unfolds, the Ukrainian public’s shifting attitudes toward their president serve as a reminder of the profound challenges facing any leader during wartime. Whether Zelensky’s legacy will be defined by his early heroism or by the difficult decisions of the years that followed remains to be seen. What is certain is that, whenever peace returns, Ukraine’s electorate will have the final say.