Kyiv, 17 March 2026 — The sixth annual “Index of Media Literacy of Ukrainians” study, for 2025, has been presented in Kyiv. The study was prepared by the non-governmental organisation Detector Media as part of the “Supporting Inclusive Recovery to Ensure People’s Resilience and Safety in Ukraine” project. The project is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine with funding from the Government of Japan. 

The study tracks changes in media consumption, levels of critical thinking, trust in the media, and the use of social media and artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in the context of the fourth year of the full-scale war. 

Key Findings 

Resilience to disinformation remains strong. 
The overall level of media literacy remains high and has not returned to pre-war levels. Some 55 percent of respondents consider disinformation to be a significant problem, while 44 percent regularly verify the accuracy of information. 

Perception of media manipulation. 
More than half of respondents (56 percent view media manipulation as a current problem and recognise the need to improve critical evaluation of information. 

Trust in authorship and sources. 
Some 37 percent of respondents always take into account the authorship of materials, while 31 percent do so depending on the context. 

Role of bloggers and journalists. 
Audiences often perceive bloggers as more emotional, independent, and open in expressing their own opinions than journalists. 

Dominance of social media. 
Telegram remains the primary source of socio-political information (54 percent), with YouTube being the second most popular source (39 percent) and the main platform for educational or informative content (50 percent). 

Increase in use of artificial intelligence. The share of AI users increased from 28 percent in 2024 to 49 percent in 2025. These technologies are most commonly used in professional activities and learning. However, 13 percent of respondents still do not trust AI. 

Perception of role of media and criticism of authorities. 
Some 43 percent of respondents support criticism of the authorities in the media as an important element of accountability. Regarding media performance, 43 percent believe media primarily serve the interests of the authorities, 32 percent the interests of owners and investors, and 29 percent their own interests. Only 19 percent believe they represent the interests of society as a whole. 

Education and wellbeing as factors in media literacy. 
Lower levels of media literacy are more frequently observed among people with secondary education and respondents with lower levels of material wellbeing. 

Natalia Lygachova, the chair of Detector Media, highlighted the particular importance of conducting such research during a full-scale war: “The study of Ukrainians’ media literacy shows how capable the population is of critically evaluating information and resisting disinformation and manipulation,” she said. “This is especially important during a full-scale war, as informational resilience directly affects citizens’ safety and their ability to make informed decisions in difficult circumstances.” 
 
"We’re grateful to UNDP in Ukraine and the Government of Japan for supporting this research and for systematic cooperation in implementing initiatives to increase media literacy among the population. Thanks to such support, the state, media, and educational programmes can make informed decisions and implement effective measures to strengthen the informational resilience of Ukrainians.” 

Hanna Krasnostup, the director of the Department of Strategic Communications and Promotion of Ukrainian Culture at the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, emphasised the close cooperation between the Ministry and UNDP in the field of media literacy: “Media literacy today is a key element of societal informational resilience,” Krasnostup said. “We thank UNDP in Ukraine for their long-term support of the ‘Filter’ national media literacy project, which implements numerous initiatives to develop critical thinking and enhance citizens’ media literacy. The Index of Media Literacy of Ukrainians helps us assess the effectiveness of these initiatives and see their real results. Its findings also provide important analytical support for developing and improving state policies on increasing media literacy and countering foreign information manipulation and interference.” 

Team Leader for Democratic Governance and Inclusive Social Fabric Portfolio at UNDP in Ukraine Olena Ursu highlighted the importance of continuous analysis of citizens’ media literacy: “These studies allow us to see how Ukrainians’ media literacy is evolving during the war, which digital and media competencies are growing, and where additional support is needed,” Ursu said. “Understanding these trends helps assess the effectiveness of existing programmes and plan new steps to strengthen critical thinking and informational resilience. We are grateful to the Government of Japan for funding these initiatives and are pleased to support the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the civil sector in implementing projects aimed at increasing media literacy levels.” 

Access the full study via this link. 

Media inquiries: 
Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications and Advocacy, UNDP in Ukraine – yuliia.samus@undp.org