Ukrainians' attitudes toward Stalin are growing increasingly negative
Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Joseph Stalin have reached a record low since the country gained independence. Only 7% of those surveyed consider the Soviet dictator a “great leader,” while 57% view him negatively. This is according to the results of a new poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.
According to the KIIS, only 7% of Ukrainians agree that Stalin can be called a “great leader.” In contrast, 57% of respondents view the Soviet dictator negatively. Another 62% of those surveyed completely or somewhat disagree with the statement about Stalin’s “greatness.” At the same time, 31% were unable to clearly define their position.
Sociologists note that the current 7% is the lowest level of support for Stalin since Ukraine gained independence. When it comes to personal attitudes, only 3% of Ukrainians view Stalin positively. Twenty-seven percent are indifferent toward him, 57% view him negatively, and another 10% remain undecided.
How Attitudes Toward Stalin Have Changed
The figures have changed significantly over the years since Ukraine gained independence. In 1991, 27% of Ukrainians agreed with the statement that Stalin was a “great leader.” This figure peaked in 2002, when 39% of respondents held that view.
After that, support for this view began to decline. Currently, it stands at only 7%.
At the same time, sociologists caution that the decrease in the proportion of people who directly call Stalin a “great leader” does not automatically mean an increase in the number of his opponents. “This is not about an increase in the number of Stalin’s supporters, but rather about a slight softening of the categorical nature of his rejection and an increase in the proportion of undecided or ambivalent assessments,” explained KMIS.
Ukraine and Russia Have Taken Different Paths
Back at the beginning of Ukraine’s independence, attitudes toward Stalin in Ukraine and Russia were quite similar. However, over time, the situation in the two countries began to diverge significantly. This divergence became particularly noticeable after 2016. In Ukraine, support for the image of Stalin as a “great leader” continued to decline, while in Russia his popularity grew.
According to research by Russia’s Levada Center, in 2026, 56% of Russians consider Stalin a great leader. In Ukraine, only 7% of those surveyed share this view. Sociologists at KMIS note that in Russia, Stalin has effectively become a national hero. In Ukraine, however, the shift in attitudes toward him is one of the indicators of the decommunization process.
Why This Matters
The survey results show just how much the perception of the Soviet past in Ukraine has changed over the years of independence. Stalin is associated with mass repressions, the Holodomor, deportations, and other crimes of the Soviet regime. That is precisely why, for most Ukrainians, he is not a symbol of greatness.
At the same time, nearly one-third of respondents do not have a clear position on how to evaluate Stalin. This means that the topic of the Soviet past remains complex and ambiguous for a segment of society. KMIS also continues to study Ukrainians’ attitudes toward other well-known political and public figures. In particular, sociologists specifically investigated which public figures Ukrainians trust the most. This is evident from the results of a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KMIS).
