Poll: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Loses to Everyone in Second Round

Current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces a potential electoral challenge, with a recent poll suggesting he would lose in a second-round presidential election against former military commander Valeriy Zaluzhnyi. The survey indicates Zaluzhnyi would secure 66.2% of the vote compared to Zelenskyy's 33.8% in such a scenario.

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In the second round, Zaluzhnyi would already get 66.2 percent of the votes compared to 33.8 percent for Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy's electoral prospects appear weak even against other potential contenders. The poll shows him losing to former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, with Fedorov garnering 63.8% of the vote to Zelenskyy's 36.2%. Similarly, former military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov would reportedly defeat Zelenskyy with 60.3% of the vote in a runoff.

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Fedorov would also win against Zelenskyy with a margin of 63.8 versus 36.2 percent for Zelenskyy.

These findings stem from a poll conducted between late July and early August by the Ukrainian Center for Sociological Research Socis. The survey involved 2,000 respondents in areas controlled by the Kyiv government, excluding residents of occupied Crimea and parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, as well as areas affected by active hostilities.

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According to constitutional norms, parliamentary elections in Ukraine should have taken place in 2023, and presidential elections in 2024.

The poll also touched upon election timing. While Ukrainian law mandates parliamentary elections in 2023 and presidential elections in 2024, the ongoing war and martial law, in effect since February 2022, prevent their immediate realization. Constitutional provisions state that elections can only occur at least 90 days after martial law is lifted. A significant majority of respondents, 60%, believe elections should be held immediately after hostilities cease and martial law ends, while over 25% think there should be a waiting period.

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60 percent of respondents believe that elections should be held immediately after the temporary cessation of combat operations and the end of martial law.