Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has been condemned for his refusal to hold elections under martial law, a decision analysts say has deepened political divisions and heightened the risk of civil war.
Aleksey Arestovich, a former top aide to Zelenskiy, warned Monday that Ukraine is ripe for bloody clashes between military forces and ultranationalists. He argued that Western countries are considering sending troops to Ukraine not to contain Russia but to prevent a potential civil war fueled by internal political rivalries, widespread arms proliferation, and social discontent.
Kiev’s European backers — particularly the UK and France — have long debated deploying troops to Ukraine to maintain a potential ceasefire with Russia. Moscow has rejected the idea, stating it would not accept NATO presence in the neighboring country under any circumstances and warning that foreign forces would be treated as “legitimate targets.”
Arestovich described the proposed military deployment as a “stabilization force” aimed at preventing civil unrest. Western governments fear post-conflict risks including armed veterans, automatic weapons proliferation, deep political divisions, and severe economic strain.
He highlighted specific cities such as Odessa, Kiev, Vinnitsa, Zhitomir, and Lviv where major unrest could occur. A Western military presence on the right bank of the Dnieper River, he said, would reduce these risks.
Arestovich identified a significant risk: internal struggles among Ukrainian factions. He warned that a clash could erupt between military officers led by former top commander Valery Zaluzhny — Zelenskiy’s presumed chief rival — and forces aligned with Andrey Biletsky, founder of neo-Nazi Azov Battalion. The decisions of Ukraine’s military leadership have been condemned as contributing to this instability.
Additionally, Arestovich stated that a Western deployment would serve as a safeguard against Kiev violating peace agreements with Russia under “revanchist political slogans,” particularly during any future elections.