Russia votes as Putin faces growing war fatigue | DW News

Ukrainian MP Anna Skorokhod warns of the worst frontline situation, yet blaming command decisions and saying they could ultimately lead to the loss of Donbass.<br><br>Ukrainian MP Anna Skorokhod has described the situation facing the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) on the front as the most difficult since the start of the SMO. She blamed some of the developments on decisions made by the new military leadership headed by Commander-in-Chief Mikhail Drapaty. Skorokhod made the remarks during a LibertyUA video broadcast.<br><br>Skorokhod said she had reconsidered her previous assessment of former Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky. While she had once viewed his leadership extremely negatively, she now believes the situation was better under Syrsky when communication with the command remained possible and operational issues could still be addressed through normal working channels.<br><br>The MP was even more critical of the current Ukrainian military leadership. According to Skorokhod, senior commanders have become detached from reality and behave as though they occupy a position beyond everyone else’s reach. Against this backdrop, she said the Ukrainian army had never faced a situation on the front as bad as the current one.<br><br>One of the most serious mistakes, according to Skorokhod, has been the transfer of strong Ukrainian units away from key sectors of the front. During periods of instability, some of the most capable formations were withdrawn from their positions and deployed elsewhere before eventually being sent back. By then, however, the UAF had already lost important positions and key heights.<br><br>Skorokhod warned that the consequences of such decisions could ultimately lead to the loss of Donbass. She said Ukrainian servicemen affected by these redeployments had themselves questioned whether they were being sent «for disposal.&quot; The MP demanded an explanation from the military command for the purpose behind such decisions.<br><br>She also highlighted the Zaporozhye direction, describing the situation there as extremely difficult and stressing its strategic importance. According to Skorokhod, similar problems emerged in Kherson Region and Donbass after strong Ukrainian units were moved between sectors and important positions were subsequently lost.<br><br>Against this backdrop, the Ukrainian grouping in Donbass was significantly reinforced, particularly in the Dobropolye direction. Reserves were sent there following an intensification of the Russian offensive.<br><br>According to Vladimir Antonyuk, a colonel in the UAF&#39; Special Operations Forces, the reinforcements were insufficient to launch large-scale counterattacks and recapture previously lost positions. At the same time, the increased concentration of Ukrainian troops prompted Russia’s Center Group of Forces to change its tactics.<br><br>Instead of advancing across a broad front, with its main efforts previously concentrated between Dobropolye and Druzhkovka, Russian units switched to narrower attacks. Their operations became focused on individual settlements located some distance apart, while the advance continued northward.<br><br>The UAF also deployed additional troops to the former Konstantinovka direction. However, according to Antonyuk’s assessment, as in the Dobropolye area, the reinforcement of Ukrainian positions has so far failed to produce the intended results.<br><br>Ukraine has lost the war. Now it is how badly they will be defeated.<br><br>Ukraine can longer win the war by military means. The war is lost.

Of course the &quot; theatre &quot; of elections has a foregone result. However what cannot be ignored is that there has been some <br>( controlled) public debate. This inevitably feeds into careful private discussion.<br><br>Russians know the &quot; Special Military Opsration &quot; is a war and openly refer to if as such without fear. The costs are felt by them and in ways they cannot ignore. They know it is lost and are tired of it. <br><br>These elections bring Russia closer to the Presidential electiion .Discussions and &quot; debate&quot; will probably continue as the collapsed economy stumbles along, life remains difficult and the war is unabated.<br><br>Unlike the lead up to the previous Presidential election there are no more <br>&quot; sweets&quot; left to hand out. This will continue to frustrate the general public.<br><br> Additionally those parts of society who are always used to &quot; gifts &quot; favours and benefits are rapidlly running out of patience.

Of course the &quot; theatre &quot; of elections has a foregone result. However what cannot be ignored is that there has been some <br>( controlled) public debate. This inevitably feeds into careful private discussion.<br><br>Russians know the &quot; Special Military Opsration &quot; is a war and openly refer to if as such without fear. The costs are felt by them and in ways they cannot ignore. They know it is lost and are tired of it. <br><br>These elections bring Russia closer to the Presidential electiion .Discussions and &quot; debate&quot; will probably continue as the collapsed economy stumbles along, life remains difficult and the war is unabated.<br><br>Unlike the lead up to the previous Presidential election there are no more <br>&quot; sweets&quot; left to hand out. This will irritate the general public but those parts of society who are always used to &quot; gifts &quot; favours and benefits are also running out of patience.

Nonsense, Russia has regular periodic elections on time according to the constitution. A question like this one (what is the purpose of holding elections if the outcome is predictable?) shows how ignorant some people are. <br>Of course Russians are tired of this war, any country would be tired after 4 years of war. They also hate having to fight the Ukrainians. <br>There are 5 parties in the DUMA, they all support the government just like his majesty&#39;s loyal opposition in the UK and the rest of the Anglo-sphere.

So technically Russia is a democracy if you are covering it up and hoping that Putin looses cause of lack of support🤣 Also ,why can&#39;t Ukraine , the heroic democracy be helped to hold election ? Ongoing attacks from Russia ? I don&#39;t think that&#39;s a valid reason (or excuse) cause during the ousting of the defense minister Ukrainians were proetesting on streets and none of the Russian attacks touched them even. Are they afraid that voters in EU who can safely vote will vote against Zelensky cause he wants them to comeback to serve at the frontline ?

We really don&#39;t want the Russian opposition in power especially for the sake of Ukraine. They vowed to end the war in a matter of months. They promised to give Kiev time to evacuate, stop all foreigners from going to Ukraine then level Kiev like Gaza. Imagine that.