ITCCS Ukraine ITCCS Ukraine
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Data: September 2026

Defence and government: an 87-point trust gap

In September we asked about trust in the Ministry of Defence for the first time. Ratings of the ministry turned out to be closer to those of the army than of the government it belongs to.

67% of respondents trust the Ministry of Defence and 14% distrust it, giving a net score of +54 percentage points. Among the institutions we asked about in September, this is the second-highest result, after the Armed Forces of Ukraine (+91).

The Cabinet of Ministers, of which the ministry is part, has a net score of −33, its lowest since measurement began in February, though within the margin of error of February's −31. The gap between the ministry and the government is therefore 87 points. It is even wider for the territorial recruitment centres, which are part of the Ministry of Defence system: their net score is −50, a gap of 104 points.

Trust in state and public institutions, September 2026

Share who trust (+1…+3) and distrust (−3…−1); right: net score, pp

  • Trust
  • Distrust
DistrustTrustNetArmed Forces of UkraineArmed Forces of Ukraine: trust 93%Armed Forces of Ukraine: distrust 2%93%2%+91Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence: trust 67%Ministry of Defence: distrust 14%67%14%+54Security Service of UkraineSecurity Service of Ukraine: trust 60%Security Service of Ukraine: distrust 18%60%18%+42Local governmentLocal government: trust 43%Local government: distrust 34%43%34%+9Anti-corruption bodiesAnti-corruption bodies: trust 43%Anti-corruption bodies: distrust 34%43%34%+9National PoliceNational Police: trust 36%National Police: distrust 40%36%40%−4Ukrainian televisionUkrainian television: trust 28%Ukrainian television: distrust 45%28%45%−17CourtsCourts: trust 24%Courts: distrust 52%24%52%−28Cabinet of MinistersCabinet of Ministers: trust 19%Cabinet of Ministers: distrust 52%19%52%−33Recruitment centres (TCC)Recruitment centres (TCC): trust 17%Recruitment centres (TCC): distrust 67%17%67%−50Verkhovna RadaVerkhovna Rada: trust 12%Verkhovna Rada: distrust 64%12%64%−52DistrustTrustNetArmed Forces ofUkraineArmed Forces of Ukraine: trust 93%Armed Forces of Ukraine: distrust 2%93%2%+91Ministry ofDefenceMinistry of Defence: trust 67%Ministry of Defence: distrust 14%67%14%+54Security Serviceof UkraineSecurity Service of Ukraine: trust 60%Security Service of Ukraine: distrust 18%60%18%+42Local governmentLocal government: trust 43%Local government: distrust 34%43%34%+9Anti-corruptionbodiesAnti-corruption bodies: trust 43%Anti-corruption bodies: distrust 34%43%34%+9National PoliceNational Police: trust 36%National Police: distrust 40%36%40%−4UkrainiantelevisionUkrainian television: trust 28%Ukrainian television: distrust 45%28%45%−17CourtsCourts: trust 24%Courts: distrust 52%24%52%−28Cabinet ofMinistersCabinet of Ministers: trust 19%Cabinet of Ministers: distrust 52%19%52%−33Recruitmentcentres (TCC)Recruitment centres (TCC): trust 17%Recruitment centres (TCC): distrust 67%17%67%−50Verkhovna RadaVerkhovna Rada: trust 12%Verkhovna Rada: distrust 64%12%64%−52
Source: UPOT monitoring, ITCCS Ukraine. Weighted data.
Show data as a table
InstitutionTrustDistrustNet
Armed Forces of Ukraine93%2%+91
Ministry of Defence67%14%+54
Security Service of Ukraine60%18%+42
Local government43%34%+9
Anti-corruption bodies43%34%+9
National Police36%40%−4
Ukrainian television28%45%−17
Courts24%52%−28
Cabinet of Ministers19%52%−33
Recruitment centres (TCC)17%67%−50
Verkhovna Rada12%64%−52

The most likely explanation is that citizens judge the ministry through the lens of the army rather than the government. A single wave, however, cannot confirm this. Subsequent waves will show whether the gap persists and whether ratings of the ministry respond to the same events as ratings of the army.

Erosion without collapse

Trust in most other central institutions declined slowly in September. Net trust in the Verkhovna Rada fell to −52, and in the National Police to −4. The Security Service of Ukraine remains among the most trusted institutions (+42), but its score has declined for three consecutive months. Trust in local government is stable (+9).

The current pattern effectively divides the state in two. The army and the Ministry of Defence enjoy high trust, while the bodies responsible for governance and law enforcement are gradually losing it. Subsequent waves will show whether this division becomes entrenched, particularly over the autumn and winter.

Telephone survey, 24–26 September 2026, 1,503 respondents, weighted data. Net trust is the share who trust (+1…+3) minus the share who distrust (−3…−1).