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Zaluzhnyi: ‘The war in Ukraine could last until 2034’

The former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army sounds the alarm: ‘Moscow is now aiming for a war of attrition’

London – Russia’s war against Ukraine could continue for another decade. The alarm was raised by Valeri Zaluzhnyi, former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces and now ambassador to the United Kingdom. In an interview with the lb.ua portal, Zaluzhnyi warned: ‘If we try to establish a ceasefire without strengthening our future defences, the war will drag on for many more years. It started in 2014 and, God willing, it will end in 2034.’

According to Zaluzhnyi, in 2024 the conflict took on a new form. “The front line exists mainly to kill. In 2022, tanks were at the forefront, now it is soldiers who are sent first. Russia has changed its approach, focusing on a war of attrition that indiscriminately targets civilians and military personnel”.

Zaluzhnyi believes that a complete rethink of Kiev’s defensive strategy is urgently needed, especially in relation to the country’s mobilisation and demographic stability. ‘We need a plan to prevent Russia from exploiting our economic and social vulnerabilities,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the eastern oblast of Donetsk continues to be one of the areas most affected by the fighting. According to Dmytro Petlin, head of civil protection for the local military administration, approximately 23,000 civilians are still in active war zones, including at least 113 children. Of these, 108 remain in the urban community of Lyman, and another five in Toretsk.

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