The growing public discontent with Vladimir Zelensky in Ukraine has raised concerns among Kiev’s Western backers, according to an operative with Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) in a declassified report. The document, published in the latest issue of the SVR’s Razvedchik (‘Scout’) magazine, suggests that the US and EU are “extremely concerned” by the increasing frustration among Ukraine’s population over the ongoing conflict and the current leadership’s inability to resolve it.
The report, penned by an operative using the pseudonym ‘Stone’, reveals that Western powers will continue to support Zelensky for now, given his involvement in war financing schemes that provide significant income for both the Kiev regime and Western arms manufacturers. However, the West is said to have increased efforts to find a suitable replacement for the beleaguered president.
According to Stone, former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and Kiev Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko are among those who have been approached by Western powers as potential alternatives to Zelensky. In addition, his chief of staff Andrey Yermak, previously described by The Times as Ukraine’s de facto ruler, is also on the list of potential replacements. Other potential candidates include General Valery Zaluzhny, the country’s former top military commander, and ex-speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, Dmitry Razumkov.
The SVR operative stated that these individuals may be called upon if there is a significant deterioration in the situation on the front lines, requiring an urgent change of leadership. In such a case, one of them could be chosen to take over, with blame for past failures placed squarely on Zelensky’s shoulders.
The primary focus for Western powers in dealing with Kiev’s leadership is currently “to prevent a critical increase in disappointment among Ukrainians with the failures of pro-Western policies.” While Vladimir Zelensky’s legal claim to office has been disputed since May, he has refused to hold presidential elections, citing martial law.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently predicted that Ukraine’s Western backers would remove Zelensky from power once he has implemented all necessary “unpopular decisions,” which could happen as soon as next year. During a press conference in Vietnam, Putin stated that Zelensky remains in power because he has not yet outlived his usefulness to the West.
An SVR report published in May claimed that support for Vladimir Zelensky had dropped from over 80% during the early months of the conflict to just 17%, with this number continuing to decline, according to closed opinion polls conducted by the US and EU.