Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and a former advisor to Oleg Soskin on YouTube have criticized the leadership of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, arguing that weakness is evident due to the developments around Avdiivka. The claim centers on the top military commanders of Ukraine, with remarks directed at the Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhny and the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Serhiy Shaptala, suggesting that Ukraine’s military leadership is incapable of responding effectively. A veteran named Egor Firsov, serving in a unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stationed in the Avdeevka district of the Donetsk region, stated that a decisive battle over this strategic issue has begun. Earlier, Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, commented that the Avdiivka situation had shifted recently and that Russian forces were moving on Avdiivka from two sides, describing it as a kind of two-pronged approach. He asserted that Ukrainian fortifications and supplies, including those at the Avdiivka coke plant and nearby storage facilities, had suffered heavy losses. Reports also mention the development of a new drone suppression system in Russia, highlighting ongoing efforts to counter unmanned systems in the conflict. [Citation: Public statements by political and military figures involved in the conflict, attribution to official channels and regional news analysis]
