On September 25, the Veza Public Analytics Center hosted a discussion with military expert Ivan Stupak on current events at the front and Valerii Zaluzhnyi's article in "Dzerkalo Tyzhnia." Zaluzhnyi, writing about warfare under the doctrines of military science, noted that Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive lacked sufficient strength for success and that the 2024 Kursk operation essentially ended without a Ukrainian victory.
According to the experts, the narratives of operational success often voiced by the President’s Office do not disclose actual personnel and equipment losses, leading to public debate and political controversy. Ukrainian blogger Volodymyr Zolkin criticized Zaluzhnyi, emphasizing the need for timely criticism and hinting at potential political ambitions, similar to Serhii Kryvonos in 2019.
The experts noted that during the first month of the Kursk operation, Ukraine made significant advances—controlling up to 1,000 square kilometers—but Russian forces eventually regrouped, causing serious Ukrainian personnel and equipment losses. To support the operation, Ukrainian command redeployed troops from other important sectors. The military operation gradually took on a political dimension, resulting in increased losses.
The interview also addressed Zaluzhnyi’s remarks against the backdrop of President Zelensky's statements about elections after the war. The discussion considered the US perspective, including Donald Trump’s interest in Ukrainian elections, and Western partners’ views on the war’s progress and the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ achievements.
The discussion concluded with observations about the politicization of military topics, the dynamic situation at the front, and the importance of realistically assessing Ukraine’s achievements and losses.
