The press release was prepared by Anton Hrushetskyi,executive director of KIIS

From November 26 to December 13, 2025, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) conducted its own all-Ukrainian public opinion poll "Omnibus", to which, at the request of the public organization Center for Strategic Communications "Forum", questions about anti-corruption investigations were added. By the method of telephone interviews (computer-assistedtelephoneinterviews, CATI) based on a random sample of mobile phone numbers (with random generation of phone numbers and subsequent statistical weighting) in all regions of Ukraine (the territory controlled by the Government of Ukraine), 1,000 respondents were surveyed. The survey was conducted with adult (aged 18 and older) citizens of Ukraine who, at the time of the survey, lived in the territory of Ukraine controlled by the Government of Ukraine. The sample did not include residents of territories temporarily not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities (at the same time, some of the respondents are IDPs who moved from the occupied territories), and the survey was not conducted with citizens who left abroad after February 24, 2022.

Formally, under normal circumstances, the statistical error of such a sample (with a probability of 0.95 and taking into account the design effect of 1.3) did not exceed 4.1% for indicators close to 50%, 3.5% for indicators close to 25%, 2.5% for indicators close to 10%, 1.8% for indicators close to 5%.

Under conditions of war, in addition to the specified formal error, a certain systematic deviation is added. Factors that may affect the quality of results in "wartime" conditions were previously cited by KIIS.

In general, we believe that the obtained results are still highly representative and allow a fairly reliable analysis of the public moods of the population.

Among the respondents, 77% know about the investigation within the framework of the “Mindich tapes”. At the same time, quite a few of them have heard about it and understand the essence – 35%. The remaining 42% have heard something, but do not have a complete idea.

At the same time, almost every fourth respondent (22%) said that they had not heard anything about this investigation.

Graph 1. Have you heard anything about the so-called "Mindich tapes" - an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) into possible corruption schemes involving businessman and co-owner of the "Kvartal 95" studio Tymur Mindich, politicians, ministers, heads of the Ukrainian energy industry, etc.?

Respondents who were aware of this investigation were asked additional questions. So, 71% of those who know about the investigation say they believe it is justified and the alleged corrupt actions most likely did indeed take place.

Believe that the investigation is questionable and its main goal is to put pressure on the top leadership of the state – 15%. Another 15% could not decide on their opinion.

Graph 2. What is your personal impression of the aforementioned NABU investigation? In your personal opinion …?

% among those who know about the investigation

Also among those who know about the investigation, 59% believe that the President of Ukraine bears personal responsibility for the corrupt actions of the co-owner of the “Kvartal 95” studio, Tymur Mindich.

            Do not consider the President personally responsible – 30%. Another 11% could not decide on their opinion.

Graph 3. In your opinion, does the President of Ukraine bear personal responsibility for the corrupt actions of the co-owner of the “Kvartal 95” studio, Tymur Mindich?

% among those who know about the investigation

When asked how the level of corruption in Ukraine has generally changed after the full-scale invasion, 67% of respondents said it had increased (although in September 2025, slightly more people thought so – 71%).

Believe that the level of corruption has not changed – 19% (in September – 20%), and another 7% believe that it has even decreased (in September – 5%).

Graph 4. What do you think about the level of corruption in Ukraine during the full-scale invasion …?

A. Hrushetskyi, comments on the survey results:

The anti-corruption investigation within the framework of the “Mindich tapes” has rightly outraged the Ukrainian public. At the same time, we would like to draw attention to the fact that the majority of Ukrainians (59%, in September – 56%) still believe that there are indeed attempts to fight corruption in Ukraine and there are positive developments. And the share of those who consider Ukraine “hopelessly corrupt” has even decreased[1].

Also, if to talk about the impact on trust in the President, the level of trust decreased by about 10%, but in December it was restored (against the backdrop of peace talks) and amounted to 61% (compared to 60% in early October, that is, before the investigation). And in general, only 9% believe that Ukraine needs elections as soon as possible. Moreover, even among those who know about the investigation and consider the President personally responsible, the level of trust in V. Zelenskyy remains quite high - about 40% (and only 13% insist on elections as soon as possible)[2]. (We would like to emphasize separately: when people say that the President bears personal responsibility, this does not mean that they believe that he himself is actually involved in corruption schemes.)

The Ukrainian authorities must, of course, draw the right conclusions and continue to make decisions that would provide the public with evidence that they (the authorities) are committed to overcoming corruption. At the same time, the Ukrainian public – the political opposition, public activists, representatives of the media community, ordinary citizens – must maintain a prudent, calm approach (especially when 66% of the population itself believe that if they criticize the authorities, they should only do so constructively and without destabilizing the situation[3]). Maintaining institutional stability in the face of the challenges of a full-scale war is a necessary condition for Ukraine's survival. The desire to politically destroy President V. Zelenskyy at any cost may bring some people the pleasure of revenge, but it will significantly weaken the country and will certainly not bring any benefit.

There is a reasonable consensus among ordinary Ukrainians: “we criticize the authorities and are dissatisfied with certain decisions; we want a reboot of the ruling elite and want to see a new generation of leaders at the helm of the state; however, we understand that this is an existential war, so all these issues should be postponed until after the war ends.”.                    

Annex 1. Formulation of questions from the questionnaire

What do you think about the level of corruption in Ukraine during the full-scale invasion …?

Have you heard anything about the so-called "Mindich tapes" - an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) into possible corruption schemes involving businessman and co-owner of the "Kvartal 95" studio Tymur Mindich, politicians, ministers, heads of the Ukrainian energy industry, etc.

What is your personal impression of the aforementioned NABU investigation? In your personal opinion …?

% among those who have heard about it

In your opinion, does the President of Ukraine bear personal responsibility for the corrupt actions of the co-owner of the “Kvartal 95” studio, Tymur Mindich?

% among those who have heard about it