Zaluzhny warned of the risks of democracy being undermined during the war

Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated that the erosion of democracy in a country at war poses a serious threat, as it can make the state resemble the enemy.

He wrote about this in a column for NV.

According to Zaluzhny, a country defending itself against totalitarian aggression may succumb to the temptation to fight using totalitarian methods, which poses a danger to democratic values.

“In a democratic country defending itself against a totalitarian state, there is always the temptation to follow an imposed strategy of action using totalitarian methods through the destruction of democracy, which carries the risk of becoming like the enemy and ultimately being absorbed by them mentally,” he noted.

Zaluzhny emphasized that preserving democracy is critically important not only during wartime but also for maintaining international support, as the loss of democratic principles complicates the formation of alliances and partnerships.

He also stressed the need to systematically strengthen democratic processes and counter the enemy’s strategy not only on the front lines but also in the political and economic spheres.

It is impossible to predict when the war in Ukraine will end, Zaluzhny said.

The former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that modern combat operations have changed radically, and mobilization approaches, which were developed during World War I and World War II, no longer correspond to the realities of war.