On December 17, at the Center for Public Analytics "Vezha," director Valerii Klochok and military expert Victor Yahun discussed Ukraine's security landscape. Key issues included Valerii Zaluzhnyi's warning about potential civil unrest if the state neglects its veterans and the politicization of military credentials. Yahun emphasized the need for targeted support policies, tailored to state capacity, to avert social crises among veterans.
He drew parallels to the historic support problems for Chernobyl and Afghan war veterans, highlighting gaps between commitments and available resources. Yahun stressed that many veterans face psychological challenges, and Ukraine should enhance mental health services for this group, learning from US and Estonian experience where veteran integration is highly structured.
On the future of Ukraine's armed forces, Yahun discussed whether to maintain a large contract army or develop a reservist model, citing Switzerland and Israel. He advocates for a balanced approach with a regulated reserve and a core professional army, suggesting mandatory military training be a prerequisite for public service jobs.
The conversation also addressed international security guarantees for Ukraine. Yahun expressed skepticism about permanent deployment of NATO or EU forces on Ukrainian territory, noting even alliance members face hurdles deploying on the eastern flank. He sees temporary rotations of instructors or air/pot protection as more feasible.
Regarding peace talks, Yahun insisted on Ukraine’s non-negotiable demands: territorial integrity, Russian reparations, and accountability for war crimes. He argues no sustainable settlement is possible without the fulfillment of these points, otherwise long-term instability will persist.
