Poll: Majority of Ukrainians optimistic about progress in fight against corruption

A majority of Ukrainians said there are "positive developments" in the fight against corruption, marking a significant increase from before Russia's full-scale invasion, a poll released on Oct. 25 by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) found.

In total, 59% of respondents expressed optimism about the fight against corruption, representing a majority in all regions surveyed besides the east of Ukraine, where 45% answered affirmatively, and 6% said it was difficult to tell.

There was still a sizable minority (36%) of respondents who were pessimistic about Ukraine's fight against corruption, but the latest survey represented a striking change from previous polls.

A previous survey conducted in the winter of 2022-2023 found that 50% of respondents said Ukraine was fighting corruption "rather effectively", compared to only 25% in 2018.

Another KIIS survey released in 2015, after the EuroMaidan Revolution, illustrates the significant shift in public opinion.

Less than 13% of respondents believed that the presidential administration was "willing to overcome corruption." In regards to the Verkhovna Rada, the results were even lower, at 6%.

Opinion: Are Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts at a standstill?

“Ukraine is the second-most corrupt country in Europe.” “The situation with bribery has been at a standstill.” “Corruption reform doesn’t work in Ukraine.” These statements have been repeated at various international forums, by foreign officials, and by the media. But how much truth is there to t…

The Kyiv IndependentOleksandr Kalitenko