Not only Zelenskyy and Zaluzhnyi: Sociologists reveal who Ukrainians trust most

"I’ll put it this way: Zaluzhnyi, Zelenskyy, and Budanov. These are the three names that command the highest level of trust among Ukrainians. Each of them is perceived in their own way," Antypovych said.

The sociologist explained what exactly makes each of them appealing to the public:

• Kyrylo Budanov is seen as a kind of "intriguing mystery," while at the same time, as an effective security professional as the HUR carries out impactful special operations.

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the sitting president of a country at war. According to Antypovych, he is associated with the possibility of leading Ukraine to peace or at least to a negotiated settlement.

• Valerii Zaluzhnyi is perceived in the public consciousness as a "father of the nation" figure — someone who has defended Ukraine or still can.

"These are the three most popular political figures in Ukraine at the moment," the sociologist concluded.

As a reminder, in mid-December the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology published survey results showing that trust in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rose to 61% in December, while 32% of respondents said they did not trust him.

It is also worth noting that during the full-scale war, Ukrainians continue to show a high level of trust in figures from the defense and security sector. They consistently rank at the top alongside the president.

According to a Socis poll, Zaluzhnyi has the highest trust rating at 75.7% of respondents. Budanov follows closely with a trust level of 71.5%.

Zaluzhnyi himself previously told RBC-Ukraine that while the war continues, "we all need to work to preserve the country, not think about elections."