Political turmoil. Zelenskyy kicks off election campaign
This broadcast is not about the military situation but about the political turmoil. Behind the backs of the active army, behind the backs of soldiers who are fighting very difficult battles at the front.
The situation at the front is extremely difficult, and the enemy continues to maintain the tactical initiative and advance. There are intense battles, and while our soldiers are managing to inflict heavy losses on the Russian occupiers, unfortunately, they continue to push forward, and Ukraine’s defenders are also suffering significant losses. The situation in Chasiv Yar is dire, with most of the city under enemy control, and Toretsk is almost completely captured. The enemy has also deeply penetrated Pokrovsk. Kurakhove has been captured, but fighting continues in its outskirts.
The enemy continues to advance on Siversk. Heavy fighting is taking place across almost the entire front line, and our soldiers are repelling fierce attacks. Given the grave situation at the front and the political changes, like the change in leadership in the US, I thought the government should take action to unite society and organize people. If we lack reinforcements, weapons, ammunition, and funding, then we must come together, mobilize, motivate people, be present at the front, be among the soldiers, and fill the army’s demands. Unfortunately, it seems this is far removed from those sitting in Kyiv, on Bankova Street as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief rarely visits the front—twice in 2024 and only once this year, when he went to the brigade command post.
At the front, people see all this mess in Kyiv and ask, 'Are we having elections tomorrow?' This is a terrible and wrong motivation, entirely out of touch with what is happening in the world and in Ukraine. I want to make it clear: there are absolutely no grounds to say that peace is possible on the front lines. The enemy continues offensive operations, actively uses new types of weaponry, and is ramping up the production of munitions and military hardware. The only reason the enemy is holding these positions is that the Ukrainian army and defense forces are inflicting heavy losses on them. Nevertheless, just look at the map to see that the situation is critical in many directions. This is no laughing matter.
Unfortunately, we see that talks of peace are highly distracting and demoralizing for both society and the army. People are not focused on resistance, the war effort, supporting the front, or combat operations, but instead on the idea that elections might be happening tomorrow—on how to prepare for them, how to engage in politics. And there is absolutely no justification for this. The enemy continues its offensive, Trump holds discussions, Ukrainian authorities make statements. But these are just words—there are no actions behind them. Trump has not met with Putin, he has not presented any public terms, and he is engaged in unspecified phone negotiations. These talks could drag on indefinitely. They are not tied to any specific dates or commitments. These phone calls could last a week, a month, a year—for as long as they wish. There is no clarity or certainty in this process. Meanwhile, the war rages on every single day. That is the reality. And the reality is that the world's response depends on Ukraine’s stance and the strength of Ukrainian resistance. It determines whether Putin is even willing to negotiate. If the Russian army is halted at well-fortified, stable defensive lines and unable to advance for months—one, two, three, four, five months—if they are being killed in numbers greater than their mobilization capacity—over 40,000 per month. And this is an absolutely technically feasible task for the defense forces. It is a matter of technology—a question of weapons and drones. If all this is implemented, Russia will have an incentive to sit down at the negotiating table. If Ukraine has stopped the enemy at the front, then our Western partners, including Trump, will also understand that we do not need to be saved from collapse. We need to be supported because we are strong, resilient, and capable of defeating the occupiers. This means that Putin is far from omnipotent in today’s world, despite all his resources, one-seventh of the Earth's landmass, and nuclear weapons. This is the only reason why the U.S., the entire world, and Europe will support us. They will support only successful resistance. And the only reason for Putin to come to the negotiating table is that he will be unable to overcome this successful resistance. There are no alternatives. This is the real world. Instead, we have such utterly demoralizing political processes in Kyiv, led by people who go to the front twice a year. Just to register their departure. To come for one day, take some photos, stage a photo op, and then go back to Kyiv. Unfortunately, we see that all the meetings of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief are not tied to the real situation. How many meetings have we had on Kurakhove? I don't know—maybe 10, maybe 15. Our troops are in a difficult position there, they are already beyond the city limits, yet for some reason, we are still holding those lowlands, which are completely disadvantageous. This is the position of all commanders in this direction. Why is this being done? It’s just absurd.
So, what is going on here? What would I like to point out? What is happening politically? I just put all the events together in a sequence, and, of course, it is clear that this is nothing but an election campaign. But this election campaign exists only in the minds of the heads of the Presidential Office. It does not exist in reality, it cannot take place in Ukraine, and it is unclear when it might begin. Why is this being done? It’s hard for me to understand. Perhaps Zelenskyy wants to show the West that he is the most powerful political figure in Ukraine and that only he should be listened to. This idea is suggested by a statement from US President Donald Trump, where Trump spoke about Volodymyr Zelenskyy's rating: 'Zelenskyy has low ratings, to put it mildly. This was said during a media meeting with Trump and was published by a Voice of America correspondent. Trump also stated that Zelenskyy would have to do what he had to do. He added that Zelenskyy’s poll ratings are not very high, to put it mildly. He has a country that has been devastated and attacked. He has an army that is actually very, very brave.
It seems to me that perhaps such statements about ratings have unsettled those in power on Pechersk Hill and led to an entire political campaign, which people, both in the army and in the rear, interpret as meaning that peace is just around the corner. In reality, this is the same narrative as before—the claims that "just 2-3 weeks, 2-3 months, and there will be a turning point, everything will change, the world will realign," which the government itself was feeding to the public at the start of the war. Instead of preparing for prolonged resistance, they are pushing the idea that a quick breakthrough is possible and that everything will change overnight. This is wrong—an absolutely demoralizing approach. So now, let’s take a look at what has actually happened and what political steps the authorities have taken.
Let's touch on the statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy in December 2024—his speech titled "Resilience Plan." Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that unity is essential, that everyone must stand together. There should be no political disputes, no conflicts, everyone needs unity. "Unity is the first point of our internal resilience plan. Without it, the necessary outcomes of Ukraine’s victory plan—which has been presented to you and our partners—cannot be achieved. In every war, to avoid defeat, there are things that the people themselves can do, and there are things that can only be accomplished in unity with our allies. That is why these two documents are necessary: one outlining what we expect from ourselves first and foremost, and the other detailing what we expect from our partners. Our internal unity must always be strong enough to foster unity among our partners as well. The world may sometimes turn a deaf ear to individual voices, but never to an entire nation that knows what it wants, works together, and is capable of achieving its goals. We did not turn against one another, did not compete for Ukraine at each other’s expense. And because of that, we did not become internally weak."
"We did not fight against each other; we need unity." And yet, shortly after this speech about unity, about the need to avoid internal strife, Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposed sanctions on the leader of one of the parliamentary factions who had just listened to him. In other words, sanctions were introduced against Petro Poroshenko. How does this align with the unity that Zelenskyy was advocating for? Apparently, it does not. This merely highlights that Zelenskyy is juggling multiple messages, trying to create the impression that elections are tomorrow and that all dialogue should be conducted exclusively with him—no one else in Ukraine. However, sanctions were imposed on the leader of one of the largest parliamentary factions, which supports Ukraine’s defense and the war against Putin, and whose rhetoric is entirely anti-Russian. Yet, sanctions were imposed on the leader of this faction. The sanctions include 14 measures, among them: Deprivation of state awards
Asset blocking
Temporary restriction on the right to use or manage assets belonging to individuals or legal entities
Restrictions on trade operations
Prevention of capital withdrawal from Ukraine
I was particularly struck by the 10th point of the sanctions against Poroshenko. It prohibits public and defense procurement of goods, works, and services from legal entities, as well as defense and public procurement from other business entities engaged in the sale of goods, works, and services originating from a foreign country. In other words, it turns out that Poroshenko cannot carry out defense procurement in Ukraine. This is just beyond words. The country is at war, and Poroshenko, like other volunteers and Ukrainian citizens, runs one of the largest volunteer foundations, which regularly supplies the frontline with weapons and equipment—on a massive scale, worth billions. And yet, a decree issued by the President, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine, prohibits a Ukrainian citizen from carrying out defense procurement in the interests of the army. I have never seen anything like this before. I always believed that sanctions were meant to serve as a protective measure. I thought the law on sanctions was designed to safeguard the state. But in this case, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief is supposedly protecting the state by preventing one of its own citizens from supplying the army during wartime. This is perhaps an unprecedented event that shows, in fact, that these sanctions are a rather ridiculous joke from a political point of view.
I would like to remind you that Zelenskyy never promised sanctions against Poroshenko. "First of all, I am not your opponent, I am your verdict." A verdict is a court ruling. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been in power for six years, yet he has not delivered a single verdict against Petro Poroshenko. In other words, there are no judicial restrictions against him. Zelenskyy has now been in office longer than Poroshenko was. For six years, he has had full control over the Prosecutor General’s Office, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the police, the Security Service, and all law enforcement agencies—yet they have still failed to do what Zelenskyy promised at the stadium in 2019: to bring a verdict against Poroshenko. There is none. Instead of a court ruling, sanctions have been imposed. And not all members of the National Security and Defense Council even supported them. What is striking about these sanctions? The fact that they do not in any way restrict Poroshenko’s right to serve as a People`s Deputy. He is not stripped of his People`s Deputy status. He remains to be a statesman of Ukraine. There are no court decisions against him—he is simply being banned from using his own money. By the way, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he would lift the sanctions as soon as Poroshenko transfers all his funds to the state budget. Curious logic. The imposition of sanctions. It seemed to me that only by a court decision should something be done against a citizen in the state. If there are no proceedings against him, so there are no charges against him. But, nevertheless, Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that he can, that he should. So there will be a paradox. Petro Poroshenko, a People`s Deputy under sanctions, will continue attending Verkhovna Rada sessions and voting. His parliamentary rights remain intact. Yet he is sanctioned—he is prohibited from purchasing anything for the army, making transfers, or using his own funds. He is also stripped of these rights by a mere presidential decree. Such extrajudicial measures demonstrate that Volodymyr Zelenskyy is using his powers to apply unlawful pressure on anyone he perceives as a political opponent—once again, in the context of elections. And, clearly, no verdict is coming. Law enforcement agencies are not pursuing any legal cases against him and are unwilling to go through the courts. Yet a presidential decree alone is enough to impose sanctions. And the National Security and Defense Council signs off on everything. No criminal cases, no accusations, no links to anti-state activities. Yet the decree exists.
Let's take a look at the list of the pro-Russian OPFL (Opposition Platform – For Life) faction in the Verkhovna Rada. Well, I would like to point out that 32 OPFL People`s Deputies are still freely attending parliamentary sessions.
The Russian party came to power under slogans of unity with Russia and support for Russia. They freely attend the Rada and receive their salaries. No one takes any action against them, and they are doing well. There are no sanctions or claims against them. Sanctions were imposed only on one individual who is still a member of the Rada—one of the leaders of this party, Yurii Boyko. Boiko traveled to Moscow, and during the OPFL election campaign, he was openly backed by the Russian leadership. "They called it 'economic negotiations.' Also present were Putin’s compadre, Viktor Medvedchuk, and Gazprom CEO, Alexei Miller. The key topic discussed at the meeting was the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. Medvedev stated that such a meeting was necessary due to the deep crisis in bilateral relations.TSN submitted an inquiry to the Security Service of Ukraine regarding these negotiations between Boiko and Medvedchuk in the capital of the aggressor state. In response, the SSU outlined its position specifically for the Russian authorities. According to the SSU, the mere fact that officials crossed the Russian border is not a criminal offense, and everything else will be evaluated later." The experts conducted examinations and found that there is no crime in the fact that Boyko has contacts and OPFL is supported by a terrorist country that is now at war with us. That is why OPFL continues to attend the Rada. And so does Boiko. And by the way, he recently made a completely anti-Ukrainian statement: "They started demolishing monuments, renaming cities, forbidding people to speak their native language, forbidding them to go to the church they want to go to. Today we see that this movement continues, violence against people continues. That is why more and more people support us - those who are against such violence, for unity in the country, for supporting peace. Everyone stay alive, healthy and united."
Now let's see what sanctions the leader of this OPFL, Boiko, has faced after all these statements. Sanctions have indeed been imposed on him—very severe ones. However, while there are 14 sanction measures against Poroshenko, there is only one against Yurii Anatoliiovych Booko. He was stripped of Ukraine’s state award. And that’s it. He was a Hero of Ukraine—now he is not. But Boiko was not deprived of his wealth. For some reason, Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not demand that Boiko return all the money from the Boiko towers scandal and other corruption cases when he oversaw Naftogaz and other structures under Yanukovych. Nor has Zelenskyy called on Boiko to transfer his assets to the state budget. There are no financial restrictions imposed on him. He is free to do whatever he wants. Why is that? Because Boiko is not Zelenskyy’s electoral opponent—he is an ally. He votes in line with the 32 former Party of Regions members from OPFL, exactly as Zelenskyy needs. He is not an opponent. In fact, he is an opponent to Ukrainian politics as a whole, because, like the entire OPFL, he was installed in Ukraine’s political system by Russia. This communication bridge to the Kremlin, represented by Boiko, Stolar, and OPFL, is being preserved so that at any moment, it can be used to run back to the Kremlin. That is why there are no sanctions. Yes, Boiko was stripped of his award. But I believe Russia has decorated him plenty over the years. He has likely received even more honors than others. Interestingly, many OPFL leaders have been the subject of numerous investigations. In fact, there was a major media debate about Boiko. The question was simple: Why hasn’t Boiko been prosecuted? Well, the answer is obvious. He continues to operate, cooperate, and push Russian narratives through a pro-Russian party. There are no legal grounds against him—no restrictive sanctions, no trials. Nothing. By the way, Bihus.Info conducted an excellent investigation into another OPFL leader, Vadym Stolar. 'OPFL Pictures.' Here we have Maksym Opanasenko’s excellent investigation, which reveals how Andrii Yermak’s former business partner in the film industry has now become a partner in Vadym Stolar’s construction enterprises in the Ukrainian capital. A great investigation—except for one problem. There are no sanctions against Stolar. For some reason. Why? No restrictions, no financial measures, no bans on transactions. In other words, there are no issues with OPFL. They are doing just fine. They are not electoral rivals. Especially when OPFL starts bringing Yermak’s associates into its business networks. If you establish partnerships with Yermak, then the National Security and Defense Council, the courts, and law enforcement agencies simply cease to function. Ties to Russia are not considered compromising for Ukraine’s leadership. There will be no consequences. So, from this example, it is clear—there is no real fight for justice. This is nothing more than a political showdown ahead of the elections. And an attempt to show that Zelenskyy's highest rating is not a low rating, but a high rating because others have even worse ratings.
Of course, if we accept this false, absurd, and deeply flawed logic that they are simply preparing for the elections, then everything they do starts to make sense. Let’s recall the one-time payment of a thousand hryvnias—money that the government suddenly diverted from the army, from the soldiers, from the frontline. Instead of funding the war effort, they funneled 15 billion hryvnias into handing out one thousand hryvnias to ordinary citizens. Meanwhile, the country is at war. Citizens are dying. Some are sacrificing their lives, crowdfunding for critical supplies—drones, equipment, life-saving aid—while the government redirects these funds to others, those who will be voting. It is hard to imagine a more cynical move, a more blatant deception by the authorities. They are stripping the army of resources just to boost their approval ratings ahead of the elections, targeting low-income voters.
I would like to highlight the following situations. Searches were conducted within the Kyiv city administration and among supporters and team members of Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klytschko. It is important to acknowledge that corruption does exist in Kyiv, just as it does throughout the government. And, of course, the mayor must bear responsibility for having people like Denys Komarnytskyi—so-called 'underboss'—who handle key issues. However, it is also crucial to point out that Vadym Stolar, a key figure from the OPFL in Kyiv, is equally involved in decision-making. Yet, for some reason, no searches are conducted against him. He remains untouchable, and no sanctions threaten him. Meanwhile, Komarnytskyi, apparently, does not have ties to Yermak as a partner. That is why no searches are conducted against him. This targeted crackdown on the leadership of the Kyiv mayor’s office is clearly linked to the upcoming elections. Klytschko is among Zelenskyy’s political opponents. The pattern is obvious: the government itself collaborates with Klytschko when convenient. As for Komarnytskyi—Denys Komarnytskyi—the suspect who fled after receiving a tip-off that authorities were coming for him, it raises further questions. He is one of the underbosses overseeing land distribution in Kyiv.
He quietly fled, despite being friends—with whom? With Mykola Tyshchenko from the Servant of the People party. Just like Vadym Stolar, a close associate of Andriy Yermak, with whom he collaborates. However, it is evident that Tyshchenko’s position within the Servant of the People has been significantly weakened, and he can no longer provide reliable political cover. I want to emphasize that I genuinely hope all those involved in land fraud schemes in Kyiv will face a thorough investigation and a fair trial. This is not personal—everyone must be held accountable. At the same time, I would like to draw attention to another mayor who is equally appealing to real estate developers—Hennadii Trukhanov, the mayor of Odesa. Yet, for some reason, there has been no visible progress in his cases. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has opened two cases against him—one from 2021 and another from 2023. There are already court rulings, motions for his detention, and requests for his release on bail. Evidence and witness testimonies indicate that Trukhanov is, in fact, a citizen of the Russian Federation. However, neither the Security Service of Ukraine nor the Ukrainian judiciary has assessed this fact. Meanwhile, he continues to operate unimpeded. The land there is just as expensive as in Kyiv, and issues are resolved in the same manner. Trukhanov was also linked to OPFL and the Party of Regions. No problems, no questions, everything is fine. For some reason, no one is expediting these court rulings, imposing sanctions, or raising any concerns. A Russian citizen, OPFL— that’s it, you’re one of us. This is the approach of the Ukrainian authorities. And that is why these events—sanctions against Poroshenko that don’t actually exist, no sanctions against OPFL, searches targeting Klytschko, sudden large-scale actions—while with Trukhanov, nothing, silence. He has been walking around with these charges for years, and nothing happens to him. What does this clearly indicate? The selective application of justice and, in reality, the authorities' arbitrary approach to fighting for justice at all. They are simply enforcers. In this case, the electoral field is being cleared ahead of the elections, targeting well-known opponents. In fact, we have already seen this happen in previous elections. In our country, the government consistently seeks to suppress the opponents it perceives as threats. We remember how under Poroshenko, there was a struggle against Tymoshenko, who was considered his main rival. Similarly, Yanukovych attempted to crush all his opponents, including Tymoshenko once again. That is, those in power have always used every means to eliminate their political adversaries. What sets Zelenskyy’s actions apart now is the sheer brazenness—something unprecedented. Imposing sanctions against a Ukrainian citizen, a People`s Deputy, the head of a parliamentary faction and party leader during wartime—this is simply... Such absurdity has never been seen before.
This, of course, does not indicate the strength of the authorities in any way; rather, it exposes their insecurity, chaos, and the fact that they are running around with a grenade, not knowing where to throw it. What proves that elections are approaching? Other emotional statements, which are now frequently heard, also confirm this. Just look at how Volodymyr Zelenskyy is fabricating a heroic biography for himself in the Western media. A fragment from his interview with The Guardian—this is simply shocking.
"There was pressure from different sides. There were people who wanted to kill us, there was gunfire, and some people died here, inside our office. Others defended us, there was an airborne assault, and so on. All of this was happening. At the same time, there were ultimatums, they were exerting pressure, and simultaneously, there were calls from different people."
This is simply unbelievable. All of this has happened in just the past few days. So, Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that there was an airborne assault on Bankova, that someone stormed the building and attempted to assassinate him. That a battle took place inside the Office of the President, and people were killed as a result of an attempted attack on Zelenskyy within the premises. At this point, I want to remind everyone that in 2022–2023, not a single piece of evidence has ever been publicly presented by the authorities. Nothing at all. No photographs, no names, no locations, no timelines—nothing to prove that even a single Russian saboteur, or any saboteur for that matter, ever attempted to attack Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Or the Office of the President. Not a single fact. What battle? This is an obvious lie. What assault? Who are these dead people? It’s a complete fabrication because in three years, there has not been a single recorded attack on Bankova, no battles, no clashes. So why is Volodymyr Zelenskyy openly spreading this falsehood? Because it is part of his election campaign. He is trying to create the impression that he is not just sitting in a bunker most of the time, only stepping out twice a year to take photos at a brigade command post—50 kilometers from the front line. No, he wants to project the image that he, too, is at risk, that he is in danger. However, no evidence of any assassination attempt has been presented. None exists. Who allegedly attacked him? Where was he targeted? Nothing struck Bankova Street in 2022 or 2023. The Presidential Office sustained no damage. And even now, nothing has hit the Presidential Office. There have been no assaults, no airborne landings. Everything has remained completely open and obvious. This is pure political PR, unsupported by facts. At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pushing these messages in Western media as part of his image-building strategy and approval ratings campaign. He is actively working to maintain these ratings, just like with all his other current actions. A particularly telling aspect of the political competition is that it involves not only Poroshenko and Klytschko. In recent days, there has been an interesting wave of discussion concerning Zaluzhnyi. The Ukrainian ambassador to London, along with a broad network of Zelenskyy's supporters on social media, has been actively spreading a photo of Zaluzhnyi in London with Kivalov—an infamous former People`s Deputy from the Party of Regions. Such contact with Kivalov is, in my view, utterly disgraceful and unacceptable for a representative of the Ukrainian government. It is worth noting that the entire leadership of the Servant of the People party has been photographed with Kivalov, including the head of the faction, Arakhamiia. This did not cause any public outcry. Here they are, all together at the Law Academy. No issues for the government here, because Kivalov remains in the system, and the authorities continue to cooperate with him. Meanwhile, in London, there was an event—I don’t recall its exact name, something related to higher education. So someone granted Kivalov permission to leave Ukraine for this education conference, sending him to London to participate in an event where he was scheduled to speak alongside Zaluzhnyi. I am genuinely curious: who organized this, why, and what was the purpose of this event, from which these photos were widely circulated? It may seem like a minor issue, but one that gained significant traction on social media. I hope no Ukrainian citizen will ever tarnish themselves like this again. If you are a patriot of Ukraine, speaking with former members of the Party of Regions and OPFL—figures who were at the forefront of pro-Russian influence in Ukraine—is simply degrading. And of course, I fully agree that Valerii Zaluzhnyi should not have done this under any circumstances. However, the fact that this was blown up so extensively is, without a doubt, the work of the Presidential Office.
This was Zaluzhnyi’s mistake—there can be no compromises.
I also wanted to highlight the issue of sanctions against Andrii Portnov. Prime Minister Shmyhal published a petition on the government's website, where more than 25,000 people signed a request for the government to consider imposing sanctions against Andrii Portnov. As is well known, Portnov served as deputy head of President Yanukovych’s administration and was notorious for his anti-Maidan rhetoric. Essentially, everything that Russian propaganda pushed at the time was echoed by Portnov in the same manner. He said exactly what the Kremlin needed to hear. Certainly, he was a key overseer of the judicial system, and the politically motivated sentences handed down to Maidan activists could not have been passed without his approval. Under Portnov, courts prosecuted those involved in judicial reforms during Yanukovych’s presidency. It was under his watch that courts issued unlawful rulings against Maidan activists—decisions that violated human rights and legitimized Yanukovych’s authoritarian rule. Today, Portnov is an active supporter of Volodymyr Zelenskyy and holds significant influence within his administration. His lawyer and business partner, Oleh Tatarov, now serves as deputy head of the Presidential Office—the same position Portnov held under Yanukovych. Currently, Portnov’s associate is seated in this position, overseeing the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and coordinating their activities. And, of course, Tatarov is also a key promoter of pro-Russian narratives. It is enough to recall how he spoke out against so-called "external governance" of Ukraine—implying that Western countries, rather than Russia, control Ukraine, while in reality, Russia is attempting to achieve this by force. This is why it is clear that Portnov faces no sanctions. Even though our main strategic ally, the United States, imposed sanctions on Portnov in 2021, the Ukrainian government refuses to do the same. Portnov is not in Ukraine. Unlike Poroshenko, he does not contribute anything to the front. He has not voiced a single word of support for Ukraine. If you look online, you will find his threats against Maidan activists, civil society figures, open insults, and, of course, his well-documented visits to the Presidential Office—where he openly boasted about meeting with Zelenskyy to settle his affairs. Today, Portnov retains significant influence, exerting control over key decisions within the judiciary and the Ukrainian government as a whole. His right-hand man, Tatarov, remains firmly in place. Yet, we see that nothing threatens Portnov. When citizens collected signatures demanding sanctions against him, Prime Minister Shmyhal refused to acknowledge that Portnov should be sanctioned. And for Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the issue of Portnov does not exist at all. Even his awards were not revoked. The person worked against the Maidan, against Ukrainian patriots, and openly campaigned against patriots, citizens, and journalists. He simply followed Russian templates, just as Russia does. And yet, there are no problems. He is still suing everyone, condemning everyone. He has money, his companies are close to him, and they work with the state. Of course, sanctions are only imposed on those who pose a threat or could become political competitors. But Portnov and OPFL are allies of the current administration. How could they possibly face sanctions? That’s simply out of the question—they are useful to Volodymyr Zelenskyy. I believe that Zelenskyy’s actions now are a calculated preparation for the elections, following the exact methods known to Oleh Tatarov. Tatarov, one of the key figures in the violent crackdown on the Maidan, actively worked to suppress the revolution, undermine Ukrainian democracy, and block the country’s European future. As deputy head of the investigative department at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he collaborated with then-Interior Minister Vitalii Zakharchenko, holding press conferences and making media appearances to push the false narrative that Maidan activists were shooting at themselves and deliberately provoking clashes with the police. And the government sees nothing wrong. Now, this man is in power, Portnov is with him, and they are trying to revive the same methods, the same draconian laws. Now, in addition to the draconian laws that Portnov and Tatarov once implemented, they are introducing draconian sanctions—not to restore order in Ukraine, but simply to create obstacles for their political opponents. Not to hold them accountable, but merely to hinder them from competing with the authorities. This has absolutely nothing to do with justice or the rule of law. More importantly, it sets a dangerous precedent—where the Ukrainian government and the president can act lawlessly, without any checks and balances. Meanwhile, the obedient button-pushers from the Servant of the People party, along with OPFL, will vote for these decisions.
It is almost comical that OPFL voted in favor of sanctions against Poroshenko, while no sanctions have been imposed on OPFL itself. This is the paradox— no criminal cases. Well, this is the reality we live in, friends.
The war rages on, and Ukraine’s fate will not be determined by these political circus games in Kyiv and this chaos. It will be decided on the battlefield, at the frontlines.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
It is unexpected that you are defending Poroshenko.
I am defending the principle that it is unacceptable for the Ukrainian authorities, for the president, to attempt to remove political opponents without a court decision. This is neither dignified nor democratic. Tomorrow, he could issue a decree restricting Poroshenko's rights, and in the same way—without any justification, without any legal case—he could impose sanctions against you. And who would be outraged then? I believe it is in the interests of all Ukrainian citizens to ensure that our state does not create precedents for unlawful violations of rights or extrajudicial actions against any citizen, regardless of their last name. Let’s remember that those who have chosen the path of resistance in Ukraine deserve at least some level of respect. If a person is helping the front, they should be respected, and their rights should also be upheld, regardless of their name. As for Poroshenko, there are indeed numerous claims and investigations against him. If the authorities have evidence, they should formalize it into proper criminal cases. The legal mechanisms already exist. Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself once said that he was the "verdict" for Poroshenko. Well, where is that verdict? Clearly, this is not about personal names but about fundamental principles.
Can't they impose sanctions on you or come up with something else?
Of course, they can impose sanctions on anyone now. Everything is open-ended—they restrict the rights of anyone they choose. The law on sanctions does not state that sanctions can be imposed on a Ukrainian citizen simply because they are not a foreign national. The person is in Ukraine. If someone has left the country, is no longer a Ukrainian citizen, or is engaged in clear anti-state activities, then, of course, there is a case to be made. But what is the case here? Where is the evidence? Well, of course, in this way they can impose sanctions against whom? Anyone. They can impose sanctions against me. Absolutely.
Right now, there is no protection, as the government operates without any oversight and offers no justification for its actions.
Did you read Trump's comments yesterday? Is the U.S. abandoning us?
I don’t believe that Trump’s current statements hold much weight. Trump is a politician whose approach is often populist—he frequently says things designed to keep him in the headlines rather than to implement real policy. I see this as a flawed and even absurd approach, but that’s his choice. At the same time, it’s important to note that the United States has not taken a single anti-Ukrainian step. These are just words. That’s why I focus on actions rather than rhetoric—I trust American institutions, which have demonstrated consistency and logic in their decisions for decades. I prefer to judge based on real, tangible actions—things that have a concrete impact on the situation—rather than media noise. In today’s world, politicians often use information noise simply to attract attention, ensuring that people read and follow them. It’s a kind of media spectacle. Trump tries to dominate social media trends daily—on Twitter (now X) and in the press. In my opinion, he doesn’t always do this in a logical or reasonable way. But it is his right—he is, after all, the leader of the world's most powerful superpower. Ukraine and the U.S. are bound by a strong alliance, and this relationship deserves the highest respect. Without America’s support, we wouldn’t have been able to hold out for so long or fight Russian occupiers as effectively as we have. The U.S. continues to provide Ukraine with the most substantial support of any country in the world. That’s why I respect the choice of American voters and will judge Trump not by his words, but by his actions.
Will Zaluzhnyi run for office?
To be honest, I don't think our army generals have political ambitions. It seems to me that the career path of our military actually discourages any political aspirations. But anything is possible—it's Zaluzhnyi’s decision. At the moment, to be frank, I don't see him considering himself a political figure. I don’t see any consistent political moves from him at all.
Don't you think the attack on Poroshenko and Shabunin is happening now because they lost U.S. backing after the Democrats left?
No, I don't.
Back in 2019, during the elections, Trump was president. Yet even then, Zelenskyy didn’t take any action against Poroshenko—no problems, no verdicts. So this is purely a Ukrainian issue. Let’s be clear—the government does a lot of stupid things simply because people have short memories. Some sanctions, decrees, but it has nothing to do with Washington. What’s happening here follows its own trajectory. Our chaos is so deep that it’s high time we stopped linking Ukraine’s mess to events in Washington, London, or Paris. Our politicians have their own cockroaches in their heads, and they stir up the situation every day. Unchecked power is our problem. The government is completely unbalanced and out of control. A single monopoly party does whatever it pleases. Here they embrace Russians and look them in the eye. Here they have OPFL, their friends - partners, along with sanctioned individuals, handling all the deals.And within the government itself, there are plenty of pro-Russian, anti-Maidan figures surrounding Zelenskyy. Just look at Lytvyn and Tatarov. They resemble a faction of the Party of Regions, like the younger Party of Regions.
So yes, this is purely a Ukrainian affair. It shouldn't be linked to external influences.
This is preparation for the elections.
Yes, well, the government is always preparing for elections. However, I want to emphasize once again—there is no real basis for discussing elections at this point. It’s madness.
Why did Poroshenko withdraw his funds from Ukraine?
Honestly, I don’t know. Has he withdrawn any funds and what funds does he have in general? It would be interesting to hear official statements from the authorities on this matter. For instance, if they said: "Poroshenko withdrew such-and-such sums of money, and now he has nothing left in Ukraine—he has taken everything out." It would be interesting to hear about it. Unfortunately, there are no facts. Zelenskyy remains silent on the issue, offering no explanations or arguments. It would be good to hear an official statement from the authorities.
What is Poroshenko's fault, what has he done against Ukraine?
Well, this must be proved in court. There is no court. There are just sanctions without assessments, without any. There is nothing there. There is no argumentative factual basis. There are just sanctions and that's it.
Why were sanctions imposed?
As I have already said, some people believe that the war will end soon and that preparations for elections will begin. But this is absurd. At the moment, there are no grounds for suspending hostilities.
Will Trump force Zelenskyy to go to the polls?
Friends, Trump cannot and will not force anything.
This kind of "information chewing gum" is just noise that should not be consumed. Protect your mind from such nonsense. The only reality right now is the war. And the fact that Trump makes statements every day has nothing to do with this reality. There has been no actual meeting with Putin, no concrete outline of an agreement with him, and no official statements from Putin indicating that he is willing to negotiate with Trump or ready for any specific negotiation plan. None of this exists. So what are we even discussing?
I just want to summarize and conclude by saying that, of course, the extrajudicial restriction of the rights of Ukrainian citizens, imposed without any justification from the authorities during wartime, is just as much a threat to democracy as the enemy's attempts to pressure us. So what does Russia want to do? Russia constantly uses its propaganda to portray Ukraine as weak, chaotic, and ungovernable—to suggest that its government is ineffective, its democratic institutions are fragile, and that democracy itself is unviable. Therefore, according to Putin’s logic, everyone who supports the Ukrainian state must be eliminated. And yet, the actions of the Ukrainian government—specifically those of Volodymyr Zelenskyy—are playing right into this narrative. Zelenskyy demonstrates that laws and rules do not matter. Instead, decisions are dictated by his personal will, by Yermak, and by a small circle of five or six so-called effective managers. In this system, laws are irrelevant, courts are unnecessary. Five people in an office can fabricate any decree or ruling they want. They treat politics as a game, while real people in the trenches are risking their lives to defend Ukraine. This is an enormous act of disrespect. The Ukrainian people are not fighting for Zelenskyy. They are fighting for the Ukrainian state—for a democratic, free nation. And freedom means respecting the rights of every citizen—every person who stands with Ukraine and contributes to its cause. If you respect Ukraine, if you support it, if you work for its victory and survival, then your rights must be protected—regardless of your political views, regardless of what you say or write.
It does not matter. This alone is true unity, and this alone is true, effective resistance. Because in the trenches, no one asks about politics. In the trenches, the only question is how people fight together and destroy the enemy. That is the only thing that matters. And that should be the only question for everyone in the country during wartime. That is why I cannot stay silent on these political issues—because the military ask me about them. I believe that all this distraction with elections and all this nonsense is a shame and a disgrace for the state. I hope that, in time, the authorities will grow tired of this nonsense and stop destabilizing public opinion and society with such a poorly thought-out information policy and such incompetent decisions.
Glory to Ukraine!
