In Ukraine, amidst the war, you are the key player: Zaluzhnyi shared details about his encounter with a fortune teller.

The former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and now the Ambassador of Ukraine to the UK, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, recalled how a fortune teller warned him about the war long before it began. According to him, this incident occurred 25 years ago.

This is mentioned in Zaluzhnyi's new book "My War," which was published at the end of December. The ex-commander recounted that a fellow passenger on a train from Odessa to Zhytomyr predicted his future while he was traveling with other cadets in a third-class carriage back home to Novohrad-Volynskyi.

Zaluzhnyi described the fortune teller as a beautiful and elegant woman aged between 30 and 40, brimming with strength and energy. During the journey, she suggested to his companions to have their fortunes told with cards, to which they quickly agreed.

The ex-commander noted that he did not believe in such things even then and listened with little interest as the fortune teller shared predictions with his friends, and later with anyone else curious in the carriage.

At first, he did not want a prediction for himself; however, the woman approached him without much inquiry about whether he wanted to know his future.

"I turned and looked into her deep black eyes. This lasted for a few seconds. I felt that even our older neighbor was watching us with interest

— No, — said our fortune teller. — I can't tell you anything more. No! I'm sorry.

With these words, she cradled her head in her hands, resting her elbows on the table. In that pause, I noticed the attentive gazes and open mouths of curiosity from my fellow travelers.

— What happened? Why not? — my patience was also wearing thin.

— I saw a war. A terrible one. Here, with us. And you are its leader," reads an excerpt from the book.

Zaluzhnyi mentioned that he recalled this episode at the end of February 2022 and replayed it in his mind multiple times when times were particularly tough. According to him, he then already understood that a significant and challenging struggle for survival lay ahead, which must conclude with a Ukrainian victory.

"Otherwise — it's doom," he emphasized.

Let us recall, Zaluzhnyi previously stated that in 2024, the Third World War began, as North Korea and Iran are also fighting on Russia's side.