Poll: 53% of Ukrainians say Zelensky should not seek a second term
In short
A survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 53% of Ukrainians believe Volodymyr Zelensky should limit himself to a single presidential term, up from 46% in December 2025. Support for a second term stood at 42%, down from 45% almost a year earlier. The same poll recorded more negative assessments of the authorities and found 71% opposed to holding elections during the conflict.
Read the full story 1 min read
A survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 53% of Ukrainians believe Volodymyr Zelensky should limit himself to one presidential term, according to Vedomosti, RBC, RIA Novosti and TASS. The figure was 46% in December 2025, RBC said, describing the change as a rise of 7 percentage points. Support for Zelensky running again stood at 42%, down from 45% almost a year earlier, according to Vedomosti and RBC. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The same survey recorded a shift in assessments of the authorities, Vedomosti reported. Disappointment in the authorities was expressed by 44% of respondents, against 36% in December 2025, and 33% said they felt shame, against 20%. The share who said the situation in the country was developing in the right direction fell from 44% to 40%, while 45% described the course as wrong, the same level as a year earlier, Vedomosti reported. [ 4 ]
On elections, a majority of respondents opposed holding a vote during the conflict — 71% took that position — while 24% favoured holding elections now, according to Vedomosti. [ 4 ]
Zelensky said on 16 September that 9 million Ukrainians live abroad and that holding elections during the continuing conflict was impossible both under Ukrainian law and on security grounds, Vedomosti reported. “How do you hold elections when 9 million people are abroad? Usually around 500,000 people were abroad, and they voted,” Vedomosti quoted him as saying. [ 4 ]
RIA Novosti quoted the survey wording directly, reporting that respondents were asked whether Vladimir Zelensky should take part in the next elections and that 53% now believe he should limit himself to his current term. TASS reported that more than 50% of those polled do not want a second term and noted the figure had risen compared with the 2025 survey. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The figures give a reading of Ukrainian public opinion on the presidency at a time when the documents say no election can be held under current conditions. If the trend holds, the poll suggests a shift in the electorate's mood that any future vote would rest on. The documents themselves draw no further conclusions about what the result changes.
Key facts
- 53% of those polled said Zelensky should limit himself to one presidential term, up from 46% in December 2025 [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- 42% supported him running for a second term, down from 45% almost a year earlier [ 1 , 4 ]
- The poll was conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KMIS) [ 4 ]
- 44% of respondents said they felt disappointment in the authorities, against 36% in December 2025, and 33% said they felt shame, against 20% [ 4 ]
- The share saying the country is moving in the right direction fell from 44% to 40%, while 45% called the course wrong, unchanged from a year earlier [ 4 ]
- 71% opposed holding elections during the conflict and 24% favoured holding them now [ 4 ]
- Zelensky said on 16 September that 9 million Ukrainians live abroad and that holding elections during the ongoing conflict was impossible under Ukrainian law and for security reasons [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The poll's sample size, fieldwork dates and margin of error are not given Only Vedomosti names the pollster, KMIS, and none of the documents states how many people were questioned or when
- Who commissioned the survey is not stated The documents describe it as research by KMIS but name no client
- The 2025 comparison figures rest on a single source in detail Only Vedomosti gives the fuller breakdown of the December 2025 numbers, so the mood indicators cannot be cross-checked against a second outlet
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RBC reports that 53% of Ukrainians polled believe Zelensky should be limited to one presidential term, 7 points more than in December 2025 [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti carries the survey wording, saying 53% of respondents think Zelensky should limit himself to his current term [ 2 ]
- TASS reports that more than 50% of those polled do not want Zelensky to run for a second term, noting the rise from the 2025 survey [ 3 ]
- Vedomosti publishes the fuller breakdown, attributing the survey to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology [ 4 ]