The Fatal Mistake That Turned Voters Away

Source: Author’s Facebook page

Congratulations, it happened: Serhiy Sternenko has criticized the draft state budget for next year. He accused the authorities of gearing up for elections and attempting to bribe voters. Sternenko expressed outrage that the government plans to raise teachers’ salaries — a group to whom Zelenskyy once promised $4,000 monthly wages — instead of prioritizing higher pay for the military, who are dying to defend Ukraine.

Considering that the government regularly hands out money through cashback schemes and various programs via Diia, it is difficult to disagree with Sternenko.

In my view, this is the main mistake of the current government. Instead of focusing on the war and Ukraine’s defense, it is doing everything possible to please voters.

The authorities avoid conflict with local elites, which is why in many regions, money goes to flower beds and asphalt instead of anti-drone nets and electronic warfare systems.

The state needs funds to distribute to the population, and therefore, the army is left without resources. For instance, Petro Poroshenko’s faction in the Verkhovna Rada proposed directing personal income tax revenues to combat brigades so they could buy equipment and drones. Zelenskyy’s team blocked the initiative — because it needs those funds for payouts.

The most blatant case, in my opinion, is the actual sabotage of mobilization. The central government has distanced itself entirely, dumping all the “dirty work” on the military, who can later be accused of “excesses.” No joint coordination between the CCC, police, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and local authorities has been established.

Meanwhile, pro-government media regularly push stories about “bus raids,” clearly to discredit the military, whose high trust rating the authorities resent. As a result, instructors at training centers are left dealing with drunks and unstable recruits, while healthy young men freely wander around regional centers with no intention of serving.

I am sure we will soon hear Zelenskyy’s team boasting: “If not for us, the military would have mobilized everyone — but we didn’t allow it!” Such cynicism would not be surprising; they will do it simply because they can.

Zelenskyy’s team is convinced the war will end soon — that some event will force Moscow to back down, allowing Zelenskyy to claim victory and head into elections as the supposed winner.

And this, ultimately, is the government’s greatest mistake.

Yes, I myself regularly write about this. The war will end when Moscow runs out of money for components for Shaheds and FPV. And this time is not so far away – Moscow has already entered a budget crisis and stagnation. However.

This does not mean that the war will end in the next month or two. Moscow will still ruin our lives. Moscow will extract reserves from wherever it can. It is already robbing its own businesses. Moscow is already cutting its social security system alive. It may well try to lay its paw on the bank deposits of ordinary Russians.

Ending the war will not be easy for us.

How do we see this ending? In reality, we have no choice. We will have to wait until Moscow runs out of resources to continue the war. The only alternative is capitulation with significant territorial concessions — and if Zelenskyy agrees to that, his own voters will tear him apart.

Therefore, we will fight until Moscow can no longer sustain its war effort. But this does not mean that the Russian army will immediately collapse, nor that we will return to the 1991 borders.

In my view, the front lines will stabilize. The Armed Forces of Ukraine will then push forward and reclaim some territories — but it will become clear that they are still not strong enough for a full-scale offensive. A truce will follow, ending active hostilities.

However, this reconciliation will satisfy no one. The people, proud and God-bearing, will feel humiliated because they did not win. They will demand revenge. Ukrainians will understand, first, that the war could flare up again at any moment, and second, they will see the results — territorial losses and a country in ruins. Questions will arise: How did this happen?! Ukrainians will naturally start searching for someone to blame. And believe me — they will find someone.

These are not the kinds of public sentiments the inexperienced green government is counting on.

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