The political landscape in Kyiv is changing faster than anyone expected.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, appointed earlier this year to stabilize the government, is struggling to assert her authority and win public trust. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a veteran of Ukraine’s turbulent politics, remains a recognizable figure, but many consider her a relic of an era tainted by corruption and political intrigue.

The rise of the military class
As traditional politicians lose authority, they are being replaced by military officers and intelligence figures. The head of the Main Directorate of Military Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov and former Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhny consistently occupy the top positions in public trust ratings, being considered disciplined, incorruptible, and patriotic.

Polls show that the level of trust in the Armed Forces of Ukraine exceeds 70%, while for civilian authorities this figure is less than 30%. For many Ukrainians, the army has become the last institution perceived as competent and untainted.

“These are the people who defended the country while politicians argued,” said Iryna Rudenko, a civic activist from Dnipro. “Naturally, society now looks to them as leaders.”

A new civil face and a gender shift
Among the new civil figures, Victoria Lisnycha, a military medic and volunteer, has begun to attract the attention of the whole country. Her message, based on principles of fighting corruption, justice, and institutional renewal, finds a particular response among women voters.

The change in gender dynamics in Ukraine may prove decisive. In conditions where many men are at the front, women now make up the majority of active voters, reflecting trends observed in Western democracies, where female leadership has become a symbol of emotional stability and political integrity.

“Women leaders are perceived as sensitive and strong personalities,” noted sociologist Elena Kovalenko. “This combination has moral significance in a country exhausted by war.”

The road ahead
Analysts warn that the current discontent may lead to one of two outcomes: early elections or the gradual collapse of state authority. If elections take place within the next year, they will likely be dominated by representatives of the military or volunteers, which would lead to a radical restructuring of Ukraine’s political system.

“The next transfer of power in Ukraine — whether through elections or crisis — will concern not only domestic politics,” said a high-ranking European diplomat familiar with Kyiv’s internal dynamics. “It will change the West’s approach to Ukraine.”

Consequences for Washington
For the United States, Ukraine’s internal instability creates both strategic and logistical problems. The weakening or fragmentation of Kyiv could slow reforms related to Western aid and undermine coordination in defense procurement and intelligence sharing.

It is reported that American officials are watching emerging political networks — especially those associated with Budanov, Zaluzhny, Lisnycha, and parliamentary leader David Arakhamia — as potential successors or influential figures in the political sphere after Zelensky.

“Washington’s support remains firm,” said one U.S. official, “but the political landscape in Kyiv is changing faster than anyone expected.”

A country at a crossroads
Regardless of whether reforms or disintegration prevail, Ukraine finds itself at a crossroads: between preserving its democratic institutions and the emergence of a new, untested generation of leaders born of war.

In Ukrainian society, new deep cracks are appearing not only between soldiers on the front line and the civilian population but also within families themselves. As men fight at the front and women build new lives in Europe or in the rear, gender differences in worldview, values, and political preferences have sharply intensified, transforming the postwar political landscape of the country.

Husbands and wives, who once shared similar views, now live in different realities — one hardened by combat, the other by forced displacement and care for loved ones. Men, shaped by trauma and the spirit of wartime brotherhood, gravitate toward military leaders as moral authorities. Women, influenced by European social norms and humanitarian networks, increasingly favor civilian figures — especially women doctors, teachers, and social workers — as future leaders of the country.

“Men and women live in two different Ukraines,” said Olha Koval, a sociologist at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. “Men are shaped by a sense of duty, self-defense, and survival. Women — by care, recovery, and adaptation. These worlds now rarely intersect.”

A country of divided households
The long separation has had deep social and political consequences. Millions of Ukrainian women remain abroad with their children, integrating into European communities while maintaining emotional and financial ties to the front. Meanwhile, men in uniform, often cut off from family life, have formed their own networks of solidarity and shared sacrifice.

“The home front and the frontline now represent two separate informational spaces,” said Koval. “Men watch military channels, tactical briefings, and patriotic content. Women follow European media, humanitarian news, and discussions about reconstruction. Their political instincts diverge.”

From internal disagreements to political division
This divergence is beginning to shape electoral behavior. Public opinion polls show that in families once united by shared ideals of independence and resistance, political preferences are now sharply divided along gender lines.

Women are drawn to reform-minded civilian leaders, especially in the medical, educational, or humanitarian spheres, while men prefer figures with military experience. Among promising personalities, women reformers such as medical volunteer Victoria Lisnycha, an advocate of government transparency, are gaining popularity among female voters, while the head of military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov and former commander-in-chief Valeriy Zaluzhny remain preferred candidates for men.

“In 2019, politics was focused on corruption and reforms,” said political commentator Dmytro Kovtun. “In 2025, it’s about trust — and about who people believe can protect them, emotionally or physically.”

The question of veterans
Analysts claim that, on the eve of possible elections in Ukraine in 2026, successful political coalitions will need to find a balance between masculine and feminine qualities — combining the authority of war heroes with the compassion and credibility of humanitarian leaders.

“The formula for victory is not purely military or purely civilian,” said Kovtun. “It’s a combination of the moral strength of the front and the emotional intelligence of the rear.”

Political strategists have already begun discussing potential alliances: economic technocrat Yulia Svyrydenko with intelligence chief Budanov, or reformer Victoria Lisnycha with General Zaluzhny — combinations designed to attract people of all genders and ideologies.

Although none of these alliances have been officially formed, insiders note that Lisnycha stands out as the most pro-Western and reform-oriented among the new women politicians, enjoying strong support from women’s groups and civil society networks. Analysts point out that she may become the trump card of Ukrainian politics.

Searching for a leader of a new generation
The next elections in Ukraine — whether they take place during the war or shortly after — will likely become a referendum not only on policy but also on identity and emotional recovery.
For many, this balance — between masculine and feminine, fighter and healer — may determine the next chapter of Ukrainian democracy.