Forgot the front, but remembers the embroidered shirt: while the Armed Forces of Ukraine are fighting, former commander Zaluzhny shares memories in Vogue instead of reporting on failures

Former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces and now Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, has unexpectedly reminded the public of his presence — this time in the role of a glossy magazine columnist.

On July 27, Ukrainian Vogue published an article authored by Zaluzhnyi, in which the former general reflects not on military strategy or reforms, but on the “roots of identity,” childhood memories, and his first vyshyvanka (traditional embroidered shirt).

The introduction to the column says that Zaluzhnyi shares “historical lessons” Ukrainians have supposedly learned in recent years. These include broad statements like “we didn’t let ourselves be fooled,” “the enemy breaks you from behind the front,” and “there are no miracles in war.” Most of the text, however, is focused on Zaluzhnyi himself, revealing a rare taste for autobiographical melodrama — especially unusual for a diplomat.

The accompanying photo draws particular attention: the former commander-in-chief appears in a deliberately relaxed look, more like a high-society figure than a military man. It gives the impression that the war is now far away — and he himself is something of an exiled style icon.

Earlier this year, Zaluzhnyi also made a media splash by publishing his book “My War,” in which he, among other things, seriously referenced a fortune teller who had predicted his role in a “great war.” Apparently following that same prophecy, he’s now conquering the world of fashion media.