Telegram Remains the Leading News Source for Ukrainians: Results of a Nationwide Survey
According to recent sociological research conducted in April 2025 by the ‘Rating’ sociological group, commissioned by the public organization ‘Lviv Media Forum’ and the international NGO International Media Support, it has been established that over 40% of Ukrainians continually trust Telegram as a primary source of news, with another 12% accessing the platform several times a week.
This trend underscores Telegram’s persistent dominance in the Ukrainian news consumption landscape, surpassing traditional media outlets in online format.
A significant portion of respondents reports regularly reading Telegram channels — 40%, with an additional 12% doing so frequently, about four to five times per week.
YouTube ranks second in popularity; around 32% of respondents use video content constantly or often.
Facebook follows with 28%, while the telemarathon ‘United News’ and Viber chats are consistently viewed or read by approximately a quarter of those surveyed.
Meanwhile, traditional print media such as newspapers and magazines remain less relevant, with only 3% reading them regularly and 84% completely avoiding them.
Similar low engagement levels are observed with radio, regional TV channels, and international media, indicating a shift toward digital sources.
The study highlights that Telegram is especially popular among residents of Kyiv, regional centers, eastern regions, as well as among young people aged 18–29, individuals with higher education, and wealthier citizens.
TikTok and Instagram are additional sources of news among young and less affluent Ukrainians, mainly in western and central regions.
Facebook remains a platform primarily used by rural residents and middle-aged individuals (30–59 years).
The joint ‘United News’ telemarathon maintains a stable audience among rural populations, senior citizens, and people with lower educational levels, who also prefer traditional TV broadcasts.
Online media outlets, including Ukrainian national, regional, and international publications, are frequently used by more prosperous and educated respondents as alternative or supplementary sources of information.
Overall, about half of Ukrainians engage with social and political news daily or multiple times per day, with the most active audiences residing in central, western regions, and Kyiv, as well as among older age groups, pensioners, and persons with disabilities.
Conversely, young people and residents of border regions display lower engagement in news consumption.
Notably, confidence in traditional media continues to decline, while digital platforms increasingly influence personal information habits, shaping the future of Ukraine’s media landscape.