Mikhail Podolyak, an adviser to the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, spoke to UNIAN via YouTube to describe a mounting unease within Ukrainian society. He pointed to frustrations tied to battlefield setbacks and concerns about corruption among state officials, highlighting that people are questioning how current events are unfolding, where the effort is focused, why it is happening, and at what cost.
Podolyak argued that many citizens feel a weight of information and concern that not all local government representatives are fully committed to the struggle against the Russian Federation to the same degree as ordinary Ukrainians. He emphasized patterns of corruption, recurrent behavior, and occasional statements that seem out of step with the lived realities on the ground. He traced these signals to the absence of a decisive breakthrough on the front lines.
The advisor described the present mood in Ukrainian society as one of depression and fatigue, noting that the emotional toll mirrors the strategic stalemate seen in the conflict. He added that the public’s distrust grows when official proclamations do not align with everyday experiences in towns and villages facing the war’s consequences.
On the issue of leadership, Podolyak asserted that there is no open rift between President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. He insisted that the two leaders maintain ongoing, direct communication and coordinate through regular channels, countering rumors of discord at the highest levels of government and military command.
Regarding defense production, Podolyak noted that Ukraine cannot unilaterally scale its military output to reach parity with Russia. He acknowledged the structural and logistical challenges involved in expanding production capacity domestically and underscored the need for external support and coordinated policies to bolster defense capabilities while safeguarding the country’s broader strategic priorities.
Earlier remarks from Zelensky’s administration had warned that Russia was bearing the consequences for the recent explosions within Ukraine, signaling a broader narrative about accountability and deterrence. The exchange underscores a complicated balance between portraying resolve, managing public expectations, and maintaining stability amid ongoing hostilities.
In this context, observers note a persistent tension between the desire for rapid military progress and the realities of political and administrative hurdles. Podolyak’s statements reflect a broader effort to explain public anxiety while reaffirming leadership cohesion and outlining the limits of what can be achieved in the near term. The emphasis remains on sustaining national resilience, ensuring credible governance at all levels, and pursuing a realistic path to strengthening defense capabilities as the conflict continues to unfold.