The level of trust of citizens in the prosecution authorities in Ukraine shows positive growth. This is evidenced by the results of the first nationwide study "Assessment of the Crime Rate, Evaluation of Law Enforcement Agencies' Work, and Public Trust in the Justice System in Ukraine," conducted by Info Sapiens within the framework of the EU Project "Law-Justice" at the request of the Office of the Prosecutor General.

The presentation of the study took place today in Kyiv. It was attended by Deputy Prosecutor General Andriy Leshchenko. During his speech, he emphasized that for the law enforcement system, this study has become an important "test" that allows for an objective look at the results of the ongoing changes.

“We see positive dynamics regarding the assessment of the entire law enforcement system and the prosecution authorities, especially when compared to 2018.” At the same time, he noted that this is only the first step: “Subsequent studies must continue so that we can see the real processes in society and understand whether the changes within the system meet people's expectations.”

According to the results of the conducted study, in 2025, trust in the prosecution is 29%, while in 2018 this figure was 19%. This is one of the largest increases among all law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.

Against the backdrop of overall growth in trust in the law enforcement sector, the prosecution demonstrates positive dynamics:

• trust in the prosecution: 29%,
• in the courts: 28%,
• in NABU and SAP: 27–28%.

This result indicates a strengthening of the role of the prosecution as an agency capable of ensuring a balance of justice, legality, and effective procedural leadership in wartime.

Andriy Leshchenko reminded that in previous years, the effectiveness of law enforcement was mainly assessed by statistics, which did not always reflect the real picture: “Statistical information can be interpreted in different ways,” he noted, citing examples where identical crime rates in different regions were interpreted differently.

That is why, according to him, the sociological data is particularly valuable, as it allows us to see the situation through the eyes of society and better understand its expectations.

The survey showed that the level of respect in the work of law enforcement officers is a key factor in trust:

• 54% believe that law enforcement officers do not always demonstrate due respect;
• 35% are convinced that respect prevails.

Focus group interviews confirm: the key factor that shapes trust in the prosecution is the quality of interaction with people.

In cases where a prosecutor demonstrates engagement and professional ethics, the level of satisfaction with the work of the Office of the Prosecutor General significantly increases, even if the proceedings take a long time. For victims, not only the procedural result is crucial, but also the human attitude, the willingness to listen, explain, and inform about the progress of the investigation. With respect and communication, trust increases even without a quick result in the case.

Andriy Leshchenko emphasized that for a law enforcement system that has been operating under high load and constant stress for years, it is important not to lose touch with society: “People who deal with the most serious crimes every day inevitably face professional deformation. Such studies remind us that behind every case there is not only a case file but also a specific person – a victim, a witness, an accused.”

The results obtained allowed for the first time to measure the real level of latent crime in Ukraine.

The study covered 14,347 respondents and allowed for the first time to assess the situation regarding the crime rate in each region separately. According to its data, about one-third of the population has personally or through family members been victims of crimes in the last 12 months.

The most common remain domestic and digital crimes: hooliganism (14.1%), fraud when purchasing goods and services, including online (12.7%), corruption offenses (5.1%), fraud (4.9%), online theft from bank accounts (3.7%), domestic violence (3.1%).

In more than 52% of cases of physical assaults, victims turn to law enforcement agencies – this figure even exceeds the average level in European Union countries.

A separate block of the study is dedicated to the factors that, according to citizens, most influence crime. Among them: war (65%), corruption and a difficult economic situation (about 50%), social injustice and leniency of punishments (about 30%). Internally displaced persons feel these factors particularly acutely, reflecting regional differences and the scale of the war's impact on the security situation. 

The survey also showed that the main reason for not turning to law enforcement in the event of a crime is distrust in the possibility of receiving real help. For example, in cases of fraud during purchases, 72% of respondents did not contact the police due to disbelief in the outcome. A significant portion of victims tries to solve problems on their own.

This clearly outlines the task for the state – to overcome distrust, improve the quality of response, and strengthen the service approach to working with citizens.

Andriy Leshchenko thanked for the thorough analytical study and emphasized that it is extremely valuable for the Office of the Prosecutor General, as it provides an opportunity to better understand public sentiments, assess the effectiveness of existing approaches, and formulate further steps based on unbiased and evidence-based data.

The Office of the Prosecutor General will use the obtained data for:

• strengthening the work to protect the rights of victims;
• improving criminal policy based on evidence;
• increasing the effectiveness of investigations;
• further developing service standards for interaction with citizens;
• strengthening public trust in the justice system even in conditions of martial law.