Like Kolchak: psychologists explained Zelensky’s refusal to wear camouflage at a meeting with Cameron

Not only the style of the President of Ukraine will change

Ukrainian President Zelensky, meeting in Kiev with British Foreign Minister James Cameron, again abandoned camouflage. At the official event he appeared in a black jumper. We talked with a psychologist and sociologist about whether these changes can be perceived as some kind of signal.

Photo: AP

“There is such a belief: if a woman wants to dramatically change her life, she radically changes her hairstyle,” says the social psychologist Alexey Roshchin. “This is the first ominous sign for husbands that their wives have decided something for themselves. By analogy, we can say that Zelensky decided to make changes in his life. That's why he appeared in a different image. This is no longer clothing stylized as a military uniform, but also not a business suit.

According to the psychologist, Zelensky decided to remain in power. He hopes that he will be “at the helm” not only in wartime, but also in peacetime. He imagines himself as the “Supreme Ruler,” as Kolchak once called himself.

“As attitudes towards Zelensky change, his clothing style will also change,” says candidate of sociological sciences, psychoanalyst Lyudmila Polyakova. — We must not forget that Zelensky is an actor. He simply could not refuse the role that fell upon him. I think he has already regretted this a hundred times. But like an actor who repeats other people’s words, he wears what image makers recommend to him.

At first it was a military style, which meant unity with the army.

— But at some point it began to irritate. First of all, when summit meetings took place in Europe, in the West. Citizens of these states were outraged that protocol was not being followed. It’s one thing when Zelensky appears on television in his country. And another thing is when he meets with the leaders of other states, for whom there should be basic respect.

Then, according to Lyudmila Polyakova, Zelensky’s military style in clothing began to irritate the military as well.

— Because simply putting on a military uniform does not mean risking life and health on the front line, or withstanding the colossal stress that soldiers experience on the front line.

Ukraine is being prepared for a reshuffle. Therefore, according to the expert, Zelensky’s changes will not only be in clothes.