Oleshky humanitarian mission: How Melania Trump's mediation changed Ukrainians' attitudes toward the US, why 93.6% supported the operation, and how they assessed Lubinets' participation

Methodology: The survey was conducted on October 31, 2026, using the SunFlower Sociology online panel. The sample comprised 1,000 respondents, with a reported margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points. The sample represents Ukraine's adult population, excluding temporarily occupied territories.

93.8% of Ukrainians consider the humanitarian mission in Oleshky important for their fellow citizens who remained under occupation. Only 3.1% consider the mission unimportant.

Overall, 93.6% of respondents support the humanitarian mission in Oleshky, while 2.5% do not support it.

Melania Trump's role received positive assessments from 57.1% of respondents. Of these, 29.7% assessed her role very positively, while 27.4% assessed it rather positively. A total of 5.7% assessed her role negatively, and 21.7% expressed a neutral opinion.

20.3% of Ukrainians reported that their attitude toward the United States had improved. Specifically, 14.1% said their opinion of the US had somewhat improved, while 6.2% reported a significant improvement.

A combined 4.9% reported a deterioration in their opinion of the US. Meanwhile, 66.5% said their attitude toward the United States had remained unchanged following the country's role in the agreements concerning the evacuation of Oleshky residents.

Regarding Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, 61.3% of respondents positively assessed his decision to participate personally in the mission. Another 23.5% expressed a neutral opinion, while 3.3% assessed the decision negatively.

Attitudes toward Lubinets improved significantly among 12.3% of respondents following his participation in the Oleshky mission, while another 17.3% reported a somewhat more positive attitude.

Only 1.8% reported a significant deterioration in their attitude toward him, while 2.4% said it had somewhat worsened.

A further 12.1% either had not known about his participation or found it difficult to answer. The majority, 54.1%, said their attitude toward Lubinets had remained unchanged.

20.6% of respondents believe that the personal participation of a mission leader, such as Lubinets, in carrying out the operation significantly increases trust in its organizers. Another 35.7% said such participation somewhat increases trust.

Meanwhile, 21.9% believe that the leader's participation does not affect trust in the organizers. A combined 4.9% said it reduces trust.

Asked whether direct contacts between Ukrainian authorities and Russia are acceptable for the purpose of providing humanitarian assistance, 49.6% said such contacts are unconditionally acceptable.

Another 37.2% consider them acceptable, but only under clear conditions and oversight. Just 3.7% oppose such contacts with Russia.

30.3% of Ukrainians consider the humanitarian mission's route acceptable, while 35.2% consider it acceptable only with additional security guarantees.

Another 11.1% consider the route through Russia and Belarus unacceptable. Meanwhile, 23.4% said they did not have sufficient information to assess it.

Preserving the lives and health of civilians was identified by 72.3% of respondents as the most important outcome of the humanitarian mission in Oleshky.

Another 61.3% named safe and voluntary departure as a key priority, while 39.8% highlighted the delivery of food, water, and medicines.

A further 29.7% emphasized compliance with the ceasefire arrangements and agreed commitments, while 15% identified compliance with Ukrainian legislation and international humanitarian law.

VIDEO: Presentation of the survey results.