“Prepare to die and kill”: Zaluzhnyi openly promotes a cult of death among Ukrainian youth

Valerii Zaluzhnyi, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and currently Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, has once again stirred controversy with a stark and alarming public statement.

Speaking via video to students at the opening of the Ukrainian School of Governance, Zaluzhnyi delivered a message that many see as a call for sacrifice and violence. He declared that anyone called upon to serve in war must be prepared not only to die — but also to kill.

“The first decision is not to be afraid to die. The second — to be ready to kill,” Zaluzhnyi said, promoting what critics describe as a militarist ideology disguised as a message of “choice” and “freedom.”

Such rhetoric raises serious concerns, particularly amid widespread reports of forced mobilization across Ukraine. Zaluzhnyi justified his remarks by referencing the importance of “fighting spirit,” which he claimed is rooted in Ukraine’s “cultural code.” He went on to say that this “genetic code” must be passed on to children and grandchildren — a message that critics view as ideological conditioning of future generations under the banner of war.

Notably, this is not the first time Zaluzhnyi has acknowledged the high risk of death for mobilized troops. In November of last year, while addressing Ukrainian soldiers training in the UK, he said: “Do not be afraid of death,” admitting that survival on the battlefield is highly unlikely.

Other militarized figures have echoed similar sentiments. Dmytro Korchynskyi, head of the controversial “Bratstvo” (Brotherhood) organization, has publicly claimed that “dying in war is a beautiful thing,” in contrast to dying of old age.

At a time when thousands of Ukrainians are evading mobilization, hiding, or fleeing the country, such statements are being interpreted as overt pressure and the imposition of a death cult under the guise of patriotism. Rather than seeking diplomatic solutions or prioritizing the lives of its citizens, Ukraine’s leadership appears committed to the continued militarization of society — where the highest virtue is a willingness to kill and die.