A recent survey shows Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains the most supported presidential candidate in Ukraine, but Valeriy Zaluzhny, the former chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, emerges as a significant challenger.
Ukrainians Still Support Zelenskyy, but Survey Reveals a Serious Rival in Zaluzhny
Survey Shows Zelenskyy Leads in Presidential Support
A survey conducted by Rating revealed that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has the highest support among Ukrainians, with 31% of respondents choosing him if presidential elections were held this Sunday. The current president remains the top candidate despite the ongoing conflict.
Ex-Army Commander Takes Second Place
Valeriy Zaluzhny, former chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and ambassador to the UK, finished second with 25% of the vote. Ex-president Petro Poroshenko secured 6%, while Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, ranked fourth with 5% support. Zaluzhny only surpasses Zelenskyy in one age group, the 51+ demographic, where he received 31% compared to Zelenskyy’s 30%. Zelenskyy’s strongest support comes from those aged 36–50 (35%), and southern regions of the country (35%) favor him the most, with western regions showing the least support at 27%.
Public Backing for Zelenskyy’s Actions
Thirty-three percent of respondents strongly support Zelenskyy’s presidential actions, while 32% “rather support” them. Sixteen percent either strongly or rather oppose his policies. The survey also examined parliamentary election preferences, where Zaluzhny’s hypothetical party received 22%, compared to 14% for Zelenskyy’s bloc. The survey was conducted from July 22–27, including 2,400 participants over 18.
Zelenskyy on Elections: No Vote-Counting While War Continues
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s current presidential term officially ended in May 2023, but elections have not been held due to martial law regulations. During a recent visit to the White House, Zelenskyy stated that voting can only occur after the war concludes. “If the war is ongoing, elections cannot be organized. We need peace everywhere—on the battlefield, in the air, on the sea—to enable democratic, open, and legal elections,” he emphasized.
Source: Gazeta, Rating, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ministry of Defense, President, Parliamentary Elections.
