Zelenskyy Under Fire: Why the Wartime Hero’s Popularity is Plummeting in 2026

The Cracks in the Armor: Analyzing the Zelenskyy Approval Rating Decline

For nearly four years, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been the face of global defiance, the olive-drab-clad “everyman” who refused a ride out of Kyiv to stand against a superpower. But as February 2026 unfolds, the halo that once shone with 91% approval is dimming. A potent cocktail of war fatigue, institutional gridlock, and the explosive “Operation Midas” scandal has forced a historic narrative shift. Today, the man who once united a nation finds himself navigating a domestic political minefield that rivals the complexity of the frontlines.

The numbers tell a story of steady erosion. From the dizzying heights of 2022, trust in the presidency has descended to 58% as of late 2025, according to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS). While still formidable by Western standards, the trajectory is unmistakable. It is no longer just about the war with Russia; it is about the war within—a battle against a resilient bureaucracy and a series of corruption allegations that hit dangerously close to the President’s inner circle. The “Zelenskyy approval rating decline” is not just a statistic; it is a signal of a democracy maturing under fire.

At NewsBurrow, we have tracked this shift closely. The initial “rally around the flag” effect, which saw Ukrainians bury political differences to survive, is being replaced by a demand for post-conflict accountability. As the war stretches into its fifth year, the “Messiah” image is being replaced by that of a politician—skilled, yes, but increasingly perceived as isolated. The following table illustrates the dramatic shift in public sentiment over the course of the invasion:

Operation Midas: The Energy Scandal That Shook the Presidency

If war fatigue is a slow rot, Operation Midas was a lightning strike. Launched by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), this 15-month investigation recently exposed a $100 million kickback scheme within the state-owned nuclear giant, Energoatom. The scandal, also dubbed “Mindich-gate,” reached into the very heart of the Bankova (the President’s office), implicating Timur Mindich—a former business partner and close personal friend of Zelenskyy. The optics are devastating: while civilians braced for winter blackouts, officials were allegedly skimming 10-15% off energy contracts.

The fallout has been swift and brutal. German Galushchenko, once the untouchable Minister of Energy and later Justice Minister, was recently detained at the border while attempting to flee. NABU alleges that millions were laundered through complex offshore accounts to fund elite Swiss educations for the children of the “energy elite.” For a president who campaigned on “driving out the old guard,” the involvement of his own associates in a scheme of this magnitude is a “knife in the back” to a public making daily sacrifices.

Shockingly, the “Midas” investigation revealed that nearly 1,000 hours of audio recordings exist, featuring high-ranking officials using call signs like “Professor” and “Karlsson.” This isn’t just a news story; it’s a political earthquake. The scandal has not only fueled the Zelenskyy approval rating decline but has also emboldened his political rivals, who argue that the President has allowed a “back-office” of shadow managers to run the country’s most strategic assets while he focuses on the international stage.

The Rise of the Military Technocrat: Zelenskyy vs. Budanov

In the vacuum created by fading trust, a new figure has emerged in the polls. Kyrylo Budanov, the enigmatic chief of military intelligence (HUR), is now neck-and-neck with Zelenskyy in hypothetical matchups. Recent 2025 polls showed Budanov leading with 33% support against the President’s 32.5% in first-round scenarios. If a runoff were held today, some surveys suggest Budanov—or the former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi—would defeat Zelenskyy by a significant margin. The public’s appetite has shifted toward leaders perceived as “untainted” by the political machinery of Kyiv.

Budanov represents the “Military Technocrat”—a leader who speaks in results rather than rhetoric. While Zelenskyy must navigate the messy world of diplomacy and budget deficits, Budanov remains the face of successful asymmetric warfare. This contrast is hurting the President. Many Ukrainians now view the “Zelenskyy brand” as being too closely tied to the civil administration, which is seen as failing to reform as quickly as the military has modernized. The “Budanov Factor” is the clearest evidence yet that the political landscape of 2026 is no longer a one-man show.

The leadership crisis is further exacerbated by a regional divide. Trust in the President remains higher in Western Ukraine (73%) but has dipped significantly in the South and East (61%), where the reality of Russian strikes and infrastructure failure is felt most acutely. The civilian population in these regions is increasingly asking: “We have survived the missiles, but can we survive the corruption?”

The 12414 Controversy: A Strike Against Judicial Independence?

Adding fuel to the fire is the controversial Bill No. 12414, signed in late 2025. Originally intended to address the search for missing persons, the bill was amended at the last minute to grant the Prosecutor General sweeping powers over NABU and SAPO—the country’s primary anti-corruption watchdogs. Critics and international human rights groups have slammed the law as a “power grab” that effectively allows the President’s office to bury politically sensitive investigations. It is a move that seems at odds with Ukraine’s EU aspirations.

The legislative maneuver triggered a 7-point drop in Zelenskyy’s trust ratings almost overnight. For the activist community, this was the moment the “wartime unity” excuse ran out. “You cannot fight a war for freedom abroad while curtailing it at home,” noted one prominent civil society leader. The law allows the Prosecutor General—a politically appointed figure—to reassign cases or replace prosecutors at will, creating what many call a “legal loophole for the elite.”

• Direct Interference: The Prosecutor General can now issue direct instructions to NABU detectives.
• Case Removal: Politically sensitive corruption probes can be transferred to more “compliant” agencies.
• A Shattered Pillar: The independence of SAPO, a requirement for EU membership, is now under threat.

The 2026 Deadline: War Fatigue and the Quest for Peace

Behind every poll and every scandal lies the heavy weight of Ukraine war fatigue 2026. The conflict is entering its fifth year, and the psychological toll is immense. While the Kremlin gauges its own public sentiment for a 2026 conclusion, Ukrainians are facing a “Dog Winter”—a season of grid collapses and bitter cold. The initial adrenaline of resistance has faded into a grueling endurance test. The desire for a “post-war normal” is beginning to outweigh the desire for total victory at any cost.

This weariness makes the public less forgiving of governmental errors. In 2022, a procurement scandal might have been dismissed as a distraction; in 2026, it is seen as an existential threat. The Zelenskyy approval rating decline is, in many ways, a reflection of a nation that is tired—tired of the sirens, tired of the funerals, and increasingly tired of a leadership team that seems to have lost its “anti-corruption outsider” edge. The hero of 2022 is now being judged as the administrator of 2026.

The path forward is treacherous. Zelenskyy faces a crossroads: he must either enact a radical “technocratic purge” of his own inner circle to regain public trust or risk a full-blown political crisis that could undermine the war effort itself. As peace talks loom on the horizon, the President’s domestic legitimacy is his strongest currency; if it continues to devalue, Ukraine’s seat at the negotiating table may become precarious.

What do you think? Can Zelenskyy reclaim the narrative, or is it time for a new generation of leaders to take the helm in Kyiv? Join the conversation below and share this deep dive with your network. The world is watching, and the stakes have never been higher.

By Emily Carter (@ECarterUpdates)
Political Analyst, NewsBurrow News Network