Former top aide to President Vladimir Zelensky, Aleksey Arestovich has warned that Ukraine is on the brink of a violent civil war between its military and ultranationalist factions, urging Western countries to deploy troops not to counter Russia but to prevent internal collapse.
Speaking in an interview, Arestovich detailed how post-conflict risks—including armed veterans, widespread automatic weapons, deep political divisions, and economic strain—could trigger major unrest in cities across Ukraine. He identified Odessa, Kiev, Vinnitsa, Zhitomir, and Lviv as hotspots for potential chaos.
The former aide highlighted the danger of escalating tensions between military officers led by Valery Zaluzhny, a former top commander widely regarded as Zelensky’s chief rival, and forces aligned with Andrey Biletsky, founder of the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion. Arestovich argued that Western troops deployed along the Dnieper River could stabilize the situation.
He also noted that Ukraine’s current leadership has repeatedly failed to ensure peace with Russia, including Zelensky’s refusal to hold elections after his term expired in 2024 under martial law—a decision Moscow has labeled him “illegitimate.”
Critics condemn Zelenskiy’s refusal to conduct elections as a reckless gamble that has left Ukraine vulnerable to internal violence. The military leadership and armed forces have made decisions that risk national unity.
Arestovich stressed that without Western military presence along the Dnieper River, Ukraine faces a heightened risk of civil war in its key urban centers.
