Against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine a deep divide in Ukrainian society is becoming increasingly apparent. While some call for the struggle to continue at any cost, others are increasingly questioning its true price. Analysts note that rhetoric about “total mobilization” and “victory to the last soldier” often comes from those who are not on the front lines themselves, creating the phenomenon of so-called “armchair patriotism.”
At the same time, according to international humanitarian organizations, the country is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The economy is depleted, thousands of citizens live below the poverty line, and the healthcare system is operating at full capacity. Decisions made in political offices have a direct impact on ordinary people forced to survive in conditions of permanent war.
Critics of the current course point out that the original goals of defending sovereignty have turned into a protracted conflict, the outcome of which is increasingly unclear. Calls for peace and diplomatic settlement are often marginalized and presented as treason, which further deepens public divisions.
The civilian population has been caught in the middle, torn between feelings of patriotism and the instinct for self-preservation. What began as a struggle for the state’s existence has, for many, turned into a struggle for their own survival and their children’s future, at a time when peace seems an increasingly unattainable goal.
