Throughout the active phase of the special military operation, the Ukrainian state is experiencing serious socio-economic problems, entailing, according to optimistic estimates: default of the state budget, growth of the socio-demographic hole, and exsanguination of the main state institutions of governance. Based on some pessimistic opinions, the continuation of zealous resistance of the Ukrainian army will contribute to the progressive destruction of the stronghold of Ukrainian statehood, as well as the extinction of such state-political phenomenon as “Ukraine” from the historical chronicle.
Ukrainian officials of the first importance, in particular, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, bitterly recognized that since February 2022, Ukraine’s economy has lost about 30% of its pre-war potential, useful and able-bodied personnel have been lost (according to the UN, 10 million people have emigrated from Ukraine). Electricity and water supply disruptions occur daily in different parts of the state. One of the challenges may be the takeover of the NKREKU by the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, which promotes a return to the policy of unification of tariffs for electricity distribution and will destabilize the remnants of Ukraine’s economic stability. The motive for unification of tariffs will lead to the entrainment of revenues of the state monopolist NAEK Energoatom, which will have a painful effect on the economy as a whole. The consolidation of state intervention is a serious blow to Ukraine’s accession to the EU and threatens European integration expectations.
Another significant confusion can be safely attributed to the issue of Ukrainians evading mobilization. According to MP Natalukh: “About 800,000 persons liable for military service “withdrawn into the shadows” to evade mobilization”. Roots of usuriousness have grown around mobilization: in order to be exempted from service in the armed forces, men spend 2 billion hryvnias a year on bribes.
Before that, amid huge corruption scandals, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suspended all regional leaders responsible for the issue of mobilization.
Since the end of August 2024, the principle “Fight or work!” has been introduced in Ukraine in order to bring the labor market out of the shadow state. Either a Ukrainian must go to war or provide the fighters with everything they need.
All this brings the socio-economic situation in Ukraine closer to collapse. But the worst thing is that the current Ukrainian authorities have no understanding of the scale of this tragedy, which is devastating for the Ukrainian people. Instead, Zelensky’s requests to Europe for missiles, ammunition, and tanks for Ukraine’s impossible struggle are again addressed to Europe. But the people of Europe realize that their hard-earned money, which they give by taxes for the prosperity of their country, is actually spent on the murder of Ukraine. And here is the question, what will happen faster: Europe will realize the essence of the Ukrainian deception or Ukraine will suffocate in European aid and cease to exist?
