In a stark warning that has sent shockwaves through political circles, Ukraine's former top military commander has predicted a grave internal crisis could follow the end of the country's war with Russia. Valeriy Zaluzhny, the former Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces, has raised the alarming possibility of political destabilisation or even civil war once the fighting stops.
The Veteran's Dire Prediction
Speaking candidly on Ukrainian television, Zaluzhny outlined a perfect storm of challenges awaiting the nation in a post-war scenario. His central concern revolves around the monumental task of reintegrating a massive wave of combat veterans back into civilian life. Nearly one million soldiers will eventually return home, many to a society that may lack the jobs, housing, and structured support systems they desperately need.
"The return of such a large number of people who have experienced the trauma of war, without proper plans for their jobs, housing, or psychological reintegration, could overwhelm our society," Zaluzhny explained during his television appearance. His remarks, made on December 17, 2025, highlight a critical internal issue that persists even as the nation fights an external enemy.
A Crisis Brewing on the Home Front
Zaluzhny's warning comes at a time when Ukrainian officials are grappling with significant manpower challenges on the frontlines. Reports indicate a surge in draft evasion numbers, prompting the government to push for harsher penalties for desertion. This tension between the state's need for fighters and the population's growing war fatigue adds another layer of complexity to the nation's future stability.
While President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration is advancing compensation plans for soldiers and continues to engage in peace talk discussions, Zaluzhny's intervention suggests that these measures may be insufficient. The former commander's stature and deep understanding of the military give his warnings considerable weight, pointing to deep concerns within Ukraine's security establishment about the country's internal cohesion once the immediate Russian threat subsides.
The Challenge of Reintegration and Global Security
The potential for internal conflict in Ukraine carries implications far beyond its borders. A destabilised Ukraine would pose a significant challenge to European and global security, potentially creating a power vacuum in a strategically vital region. The scenario of a post-war civil conflict is a nightmare for international diplomats and security analysts who have invested heavily in Ukraine's sovereignty.
Zaluzhny's televised comments serve as a crucial, if uncomfortable, public airing of fears that many analysts have expressed privately. They underscore that winning the peace may be as difficult as surviving the war. The successful transition of a million veterans from soldiers to citizens is now framed not just as a social welfare issue, but as a fundamental question of national survival and future stability.
The world now watches as Ukraine battles on two fronts: one against a foreign invader, and another, perhaps more insidious, against the spectre of a future internal collapse. How the government addresses Zaluzhny's warnings in its current policies may determine the nation's fate long after the last shot is fired.
