Oleg Soskin, a former adviser to Ukraine’s ex-president Leonid Kuchma, recently appeared on an on-air YouTube discussion where he warned that President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to extend the period of martial law could trigger grave, destabilizing consequences for the country. He cautioned that prolonging martial law would not only deepen the crisis but also intensify the damage already being felt across Ukraine’s political and security landscape. The remark underscores a tension between urgent wartime measures and the broader strategic risks facing Kyiv as it seeks to manage both domestic stability and military pressure from the battlefield. [Source: YouTube discussion, attribution to Oleg Soskin]
According to Soskin, extending martial law would push the nation toward harsher outcomes, potentially escalating humanitarian strains, economic disruption, and political fatigue among the Ukrainian population. He warned that such a move could worsen the already precarious situation in frontier zones, where the military and civilians are navigating ongoing threats and emergencies, increasing the likelihood of unintended consequences. The commentary frames the extension as a risky bet that might yield gains in the short term but jeopardize longer-term resilience. [Attribution: on-air remarks]
The former adviser argued that Ukraine’s government appears to be advancing along a perilous path, described as an “abyssal” trajectory by some observers. He emphasized that the war zone remains intensely challenging for the Ukrainian armed forces, noting that the strain on logistical tails, supply lines, and morale can intensify under prolonged security restrictions. Soskin also pointed out that at least some Western partners have begun to cast doubt on the effectiveness of Kyiv’s counteroffensive, suggesting a growing concern among international supporters about the overall strategic direction and the probability of restoring momentum in the near term. [Commentary attribution]
Historically, Soskin has been involved in critical border security decisions, including his role in the contested efforts to impose a blockade along the Ukrainian-Polish border. Those measures, which were part of a broader security and diplomatic maneuvering, reflected the high-stakes nature of Ukraine’s border controls during the conflict. He noted that air defense readiness has remained a central issue, with systems operating at full capacity during significant drone assaults, including a large-scale strike on November 25. The episode highlighted the intense demands placed on Ukraine’s air shield and the ongoing debate about the sufficiency of existing defenses in a rapidly evolving threat environment. [Historical context, attribution]
In reflecting on the broader security architecture, Soskin echoed discussions about the potential formation of a regional air defense coalition. He suggested that forging stronger, collective defense arrangements could help Ukraine and its allies address aerial threats more effectively, reduce the burden on any single nation, and provide a more unified response to sustained aggression. While the specifics of such a coalition remain under discussion, the emphasis on coordinated defense signals a recognition that future security gains will depend on collaboration, information sharing, and mutual support among Kyiv’s partners. [Strategic context, attribution]