Civil–military relations and security-sector debates
The full-scale war has elevated the political salience of the armed forces and security services, making civil–military relations a focal point of debate. Zelenskyy, as commander-in-chief, must balance operational autonomy for military leadership with political accountability and strategic communication to domestic and international audiences. Publicized disagreements between the presidential office and senior military figures, high-profile changes in command, and controversies over mobilization policy and material provision for the armed forces have highlighted underlying tensions about roles, responsibilities, and long-term security planning. Although the military remains formally under civilian control and there is no open rupture or coup dynamic, the combination of existential war, immense societal reliance on the army, and personalized leadership struggles creates a high level of structural tension in civil–military relations.
International alignment, expectations, and dependency
Ukraine’s foreign policy is characterized by strong alignment with Western partners, a clear orientation toward EU and NATO integration, and intensive diplomatic activity by Zelenskyy and his team. International support—military, financial, and political—is essential for Ukraine’s war effort and economic survival, and Zelenskyy’s personal diplomacy is a major factor shaping external perceptions and aid flows. At the same time, dependence on external assistance creates vulnerability to shifts in foreign domestic politics, donor fatigue, and conditionalities related to reforms and anti-corruption. Domestic debates increasingly reflect concern about the reliability and sufficiency of Western support and about the trade-offs between rapid reform, wartime exigencies, and long-term sovereignty. These pressures generate sustained but still managed tension in Ukraine’s international positioning and in the expectations placed on Zelenskyy as the primary interlocutor with allied governments.
Media environment, information control, and wartime narratives
Ukraine’s media landscape operates under wartime constraints, including restrictions justified by national security, the pooling of major television channels into a unified telethon format, and strong messaging discipline from the presidential administration. Zelenskyy plays a central role in shaping public narratives about the war, international support, and internal political disputes, often using direct video addresses and social media. While independent and investigative media continue to function—especially in online formats—journalists and civil society actors have raised concerns about access to information, the narrowing of broadcast pluralism, and social pressure to avoid criticism that could be framed as undermining the war effort. These dynamics generate significant, though not yet crisis-level, tension between security-oriented communication strategies and liberal-pluralist media norms.
Polarization around leadership and war strategy
Ukrainian society remains comparatively unified on core war aims—defense of sovereignty and opposition to Russian aggression—and Volodymyr Zelenskyy retains a significant base of support as a wartime leader. However, as the war becomes protracted, public debates over mobilization, military leadership, corruption, and negotiations are increasingly personalized around Zelenskyy. Criticism from opposition figures, civil society actors, and some military representatives has become more open, particularly regarding the balance between civilian and military decision-making and the pace and transparency of reforms. While this has not yet produced systemic institutional deadlock or large-scale domestic unrest, it reflects a marked increase in political polarization compared with the early months of the full-scale invasion.
Social cohesion and wartime resilience
Despite immense strain from displacement, casualties, and economic disruption, social cohesion has remained relatively robust. Zelenskyy is a central symbolic figure in efforts to sustain morale, frame sacrifices as nationally meaningful, and project unity across linguistic, regional, and ethnic lines. Volunteer networks, local self-organization, and mutual aid have played a substantial role in maintaining a sense of solidarity. At the same time, fatigue, unequal distribution of war burdens, and grievances about living conditions and mobilization practices are increasingly visible, especially among internally displaced people, families of soldiers, and residents of frontline or frequently targeted regions. These tensions are notable but have not yet translated into a generalized breakdown of social order, hence a rating of moderate rather than high tension.
Trust in institutions and perceptions of governance
Trust in the presidency and the armed forces has generally remained higher than trust in other state institutions, and Zelenskyy’s personal role as a communicator and crisis manager has been central to sustaining that trust. However, concerns about corruption, selective justice, and the concentration of decision-making in the executive have re-emerged after an initial rally-around-the-flag period. High-profile dismissals and anti-corruption investigations, which Zelenskyy has used to signal commitment to reform and to respond to domestic and international pressure, simultaneously demonstrate institutional responsiveness and reinforce public awareness of governance shortcomings. Tensions between the presidency and some independent institutions, as well as debates over the scope of wartime emergency powers, produce a level of institutional strain that exceeds routine democratic contestation but does not yet approach systemic collapse.