“The fight continues” on the treadmill: Zaluzhnyi “fights” in the gym while Ukraine loses people on the front line

On July 8, his birthday, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — now a diplomat in London — Valerii Zaluzhnyi chose to remind the public of himself not through diplomatic achievements or geopolitical initiatives, but with a selfie from a treadmill.

The photo, posted on his Facebook account, shows him mid-run, wearing a signature New Balance T-shirt and headphones. The caption read simply: “The struggle continues.” However, he did not clarify what exactly he is “struggling” for — especially from a fitness center in the British capital.

The post sparked confusion and criticism among many, especially against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the acute shortage of personnel at the front. It’s worth recalling that in the winter of 2024, Zaluzhnyi was declared unfit for military service following a medical examination and formally retired, thus avoiding a symbolic military pension of 1,762 hryvnias per month (about €40). Just a few months later, he was appointed to a prestigious role — Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Since July 2024, he has officially represented Ukraine in London, having presented copies of his credentials to the UK’s diplomatic protocol. However, so far, he has not initiated any notable diplomatic efforts or achieved any significant foreign policy victories.

While soldiers continue to die on the front lines, the former top general appears — at least on social media — more focused on his physical fitness and lifestyle in one of Europe’s most prosperous capitals. To some Ukrainians, his recent post feels more like a PR move than an act of service to the nation.