Zelenskyy Celebrates Three Years of Ukrainian Disintegration

24 Feb 2025 marks 3 yrs of battering of Ukraine in the hands of much superior Russian Forces. It was on this day, 3 yrs back that Russia had mounted a Special Military Operation against Ukraine with two main objectives:-

• To liberate the two breakaway parts of Luhansk & Donetsk; and
• To demilitarize Ukraine

The first objective could be somewhat justified because these States of Ukraine contained mostly the Russian Speaking population who were bearing Ukrainian brunt since 2012 for near 10 yrs when govt care for their social security, welfare services, schooling and general livelihood were stopped. Russia was meeting their day-to-day requirements of Donbass region for all these years. This objective was largely achieved on 30 Sep 2022 when Mayors of the two states along with another two (Zaporhazzia & Kherson) signed the full accession to Russia in Moscow in an official ceremony. These losses of 4 states were much more than Russia had asked for.

However, the second objective of demilitarizing Ukraine was contrary to the pride of any sovereign nation. Ukrainian Military was being strengthened by NATO so as to join them as a member. This was unacceptable to Russia. It is also believed that during the dis-integration of the USSR, USA had given an assurance that NATO will not extend itself towards the breakaway USSR nations BUT they did. With Estonia and Latvia already joined NATO, Russia was in no mood to let Ukraine having 1974 Km of shared boarder to gain access in its own backyard. Hence, Russia had issued a clear warning to both Ukraine and NATO against such plans that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disregarded. The outcome was the invasion of Ukraine on 24 Feb 22.

There was an initial thinking of many military experts in the world that Kiev will fall in no time but that was not the case. NATO’s advanced war equipment somehow sustained the much smaller military of Ukraine for nearly 2 ½ yrs. It was in September-October 2024 that Ukraine declared in public that their military had depleted, unable to resist Russian military thrust when Zelenskyy issued orders to reduce the age of the youth to 18 yrs for mandatory conscription in military. There were panic among the youths when many of them fled from the battered country. The writing was glaring on the wall of impending military decimation, but Zelensky refused to read it. The war is going to enter the fourth year when the Comedian President wanted to celebrate it and many EU leaders joined him in Kiev on 24 Feb 2025. It seems they are not satisfied with incomplete destruction of Ukraine. The EU has pledged another $3.2 Bn assistance to Ukraine on this day BUT could that amount of funds prevent further decimation of Ukraine esp in the absence of US military aids? Surely not. 

Three Years: What Lost, What Gained?

In the three years, lot of water has flown above heads which cannot be undone. By now, Ukraine has lost Luhansk, Donetsk, large parts of Zaporrhazia & Kherson. It is also noteworthy that all these four erstwhile Ukrainian States have decisively voted to become part of Russia in the Referendum carried out in September 2022 and their respective State Heads having signed the documents to this respect. Crimea had already undertaken referendum to join Russia way back in 2014. Hence, for all practical purpose, Ukraine is dis-integrated today whether world community recognizes it or not. There is nothing for Zelenskyy to celebrate the three years of battering in the hands of Russia. Although there is no doubt that Russia has also lost a lot of military assets and its might BUT that cannot be a solace for Ukraine to celebrate. Besides, Ukraine’s military might has almost been broken and what is on the ground today, is merely the NATO curtsy. If USA stops any further military assistance, as President Trump has already sounded, Ukraine will have nothing. Zelenskyy has blundered to criticize President Trump for his peace initiative in public. His prospects are bleak even if he resigns (as offered on 23 Feb 25). Ukrainians will never excuse him for the devastations caused to the nation.

By now, nearly 60% of the 2022 Ukrainian military forces are either dead or disabled. Those few fighting on the numerous frontiers are either the youths forced to join military, or the foreign mercenaries drawn from various parts of the world. There are allegedly some NATO troops too, not in their uniform though, providing training on newly inducted advanced weapons or actually operating them. Ukraine today is facing acute shortage of military manpower to put adequate resistance of gradually advancing Russian Army. Ukrainian military brass actually committed a grave mistake to open a new frontier in Kursk region that has put severe restraint on the number of soldiers defending other fronts (read “Zelenskyy on Suicidal Path in Kursk”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/zelenskyy-on-suicidal-path-in-kursk/). Most of those war machines and forces in Kursk have been neutralized by now in which North Korean Forces have played significant role, fighting by the sides of Russians.

Large parts of Ukrainian infrastructures and urban residential buildings have been raged to dust. Their economy is in shatters with exports nose-dived. Large numbers of their citizens, mostly women and children who were made to seek shelter in various European nations have doomed future with many of them being subjected to hardship, exploited and pushed to flesh trade. There is a devastating loss of Ukrainian territories in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporhazzia, Kherson and some other regions des-integrated from the mainland as mentioned above. In addition, all natural, human and financial resources are on serious strain with severe crunch of funds. There is an unbearable dent inflicted on the prides of the citizens in the 3 yrs of unwanted war that leaves nothing to celebrate. On the contrary, the NATO nations are looking forward to claim their own pounds of flesh by laying hands on the Ukrainian rare minerals and mines.

Loss of Ukrainian Credibility

Before the war started, both Europe and NATO keenly heard Ukrainian President Zelenskyy fully knowing that it was NATO war machines provided to Ukraine that made him to stand up to Russian overtures of ongoing military exercises along the proximity of their borders. Zelenskyy also ignored the Russian exercise of evacuating the Russian speaking population of Donbass adjoining the borders. Any sensible president of a nation would get highly alert of an impending conflict/war BUT Zelenskyy ignored that sign too. On 22 Feb 22, Russia declared Donbass as free State and sending handful of troops that was attacked by Ukrainian forces and that was the triggering point for the war to start. The intermediate events during the so-called Special military operations are in public domain with massive biases in the narratives of the respective parties. In short however, the major events with reasonable fairness by a Defence Expert could be read, published in this magazine (read “Russian Gameplan in Ukraine”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/russian-game-plan-in-ukraine-and-its-repercussions/; “Zelensky sacrificing Ukraine in NATO gameplan”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/zelenskyy-sacrificing-ukraine-in-nato-game-plan/; “Kiev Destruction: A Clear Possibility”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/kiev-destruction-clear-possibility/; “NATO must remain wary to Zelensky’s motive”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/nato-must-remain-warry-to-zelensky-motives/; “Zelensky turning a happy Ukraine into hell”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/zelenskyy-turning-a-happy-ukraine-into-hell/). 

Ukrainian prospective in the possible ceasefire talks with Russia mediated by Trump administration in Saudi is rather bleak. Zelensky has become a knave or ruffian alongside the NATO members in the wargame. Trump has already declared that Ukraine will not get NATO membership. Further, it is unlikely to get back the full territories won by Russia and worst; NATO may not be able to pursue the war any longer in the absence of US assistance. This leaves Zelensky with no option but to sign on the dotted lines offered to him and that summarises all his woes. Ukraine gets dis-integrated with four of its provinces gone to Russia, the mirage of NATO membership having evaporated, the erstwhile happy nation doomed into graveyard having lost all respects on the world platform. Post-war leasing out of its precious rare minerals to USA and some other NATO States will make them bankrupt. It is a total loss for Ukraine. 

The Bottom Lines

In the three years of war with Russia, Zelensky or his nation Ukraine has gained nothing but lost a lot. The nation is fragmented with 5 of its States opting to join Russia through referendums whether Ukraine, Zelensky or his friends in EU accept it or not. The nation, its infrastructures, urban habitats, its military, the human resources, human dignity have all been subjected to irreparable losses. Now that the new US administration is unwilling to fund the war anymore, Zelensky has no option but to sign on the dotted lines of the peace initiative started by the US. Of course, US has to ensure that Ukraine is an active party in the negotiation, EU and the Europe-based NATO members must not become a hurdle in it. This is the best option for Ukraine to stop any further devastation.