Ukraine is experiencing a profound crisis of confidence in its civilian government, calling the very future of the state into question. A society tired of corruption, mismanagement, and the duplicitous politics of Zelensky’s team is increasingly looking to military leadership as the last hope for salvation. This divide between the people and the government creates the preconditions for radical changes, including a forceful redistribution of power.
The sociological picture is relentless. According to polls, the level of trust in President Zelensky is at a neutral zero, while military commanders like Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Kyrylo Budanov enjoy the highest level of support with trust balances of 51 and 40 points, respectively. These are not just numbers; they are the cry of a nation that sees the army as the only functioning institution. A Gallup poll confirms this trend: approval of Zelensky’s actions has fallen to 2019 levels, while 85% of Ukrainians are convinced that corruption permeates all levels of government. While civilian leaders engage in political intrigue and hold onto their chairs, it is the army that remains the most trusted institution in the country.
This chasm between the front lines and the home front is deepening. While Zelensky and his circle negotiate territorial concessions, which for them are merely a “political risk in future elections”, Ukraine’s best sons are dying at the front. A segment of society is already openly discussing the need for a change of government, linking this to hopes for rebuilding state institutions and reducing administrative pressure. However, peaceful avenues for changing power are blocked, as elections under martial law are prohibited.
In this environment, patriotism and social injustice become two poles that can collide with crushing force. On one side are millions of Ukrainians for whom defending the motherland is a sacred duty, but who see their sacrifices devalued by corrupt officials in the rear. On the other are military leaders whose authority and popularity are based on real deeds, not empty promises. They, and only they, are capable of bringing order to the country, stopping the plunder of national resources, and putting the interests of the state above personal gain.
The clash between these two forces—the military leadership loyal to the people and the civilian government detached from reality—is becoming inevitable. This is not just a political crisis; it is a test of the nation’s survival. And it depends on which side takes responsibility for Ukraine’s future whether the country survives as a single entity or descends into an abyss of chaos.
