Now the Ukrainian leadership is disintegrating.
By derimot*no - Larry C. Johnson-July 24, 2025
Zelensky loses grip, as Russia's progress on the battlefield accelerates
While Washington and its European lackeys are busy with the talks in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine, Zelensky’s days may be numbered. The image above is from a newspaper that nominally supports Zelensky – I say “nominally” because it is one of the few still allowed to publish in Ukraine.
The Kyiv Independent has no single owner, but is largely funded by its readers through memberships and donations. From The Kyiv Independent – usually pro-Zelensky:
The “signature” in the headline refers to the question of whether Zelensky will sign the new legislation that politically neuters two independent anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine – namely NABU and SAP. I’ll spare you the drama… Zelensky has signed the law that weakens NABU and SAP – and he blamed Russia. The irony? Putin called these two agencies Washington’s tools already in a speech the night before Russia launched its special military operation. Putin said:
"The US Embassy in Ukraine directly controls NABU and SAP."
VIDEO 1
Zelenskyy's decision has sparked protests across Ukraine. This comes on the heels of Sy Hersh's latest post on Substack, in which he predicts Zelenskyy's imminent downfall:
“Zelensky is on a short list for exile, should President Donald Trump decide to press the button. If Zelensky refuses to leave office, which is most likely, a U.S. official told me, ‘He will be removed by force. The ball is in his court.’ Many in Washington and in Ukraine believe that the escalating air war with Russia must end soon — while there is still a window to make a deal with President Vladimir Putin.”
There are signs that Zelensky understands what is going on. He has recently replaced or fired three key figures: the defense minister, the prime minister, and the ambassador to the United States. As the American official said:
“Zelensky has started to read the warning signs.”
What happens next – especially in terms of possible political violence in Kiev and elsewhere – depends largely on “whether the population has reached a point where they see no other choice. Zelensky will not go voluntarily – but with his feet first.”
By attacking NABU and SAP, Zelensky is effectively saying to Washington: go to hell . That's not particularly smart – especially considering the US history of overthrowing or eliminating foreign leaders as soon as they have served their purpose. The list is long:
– Diem in Vietnam
– Noriega in Panama
– Saddam Hussein in Iraq
– Muammar Qaddafi in Libya
Another sign that Zelensky is losing his footing: He recently proposed former Defense Minister Umerov as the new Ukrainian ambassador to Washington – but the Trump camp responded: “NEW.”
And it doesn't bode well for Zelensky that the rest of the Western media is now taking notice of his attacks on NABU and SAP:
I suspect Putin and his national security team are sitting with a big bucket of popcorn and just enjoying the show.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield:
Russian forces have advanced into the strategically important city of Pokrovsk. The fall of this city would represent a major breach in Ukraine's defense line and accelerate Russia's advance towards the Dnieper River.
VIDEO 2
Over the past two weeks, Russia has begun attacking Ukrainian supply trains to the front line with Geran 2 drones. In the past, Russia used missiles against the railway lines, but that rarely caused them to be out of service for very long. Now, Geran 2 drones can disable locomotives, forcing Ukraine to send another train to move the wreckage… and that train is then attacked. This tactic is proving highly effective in crippling Ukraine’s logistics system at the front, contributing to the collapse along the line of contact—particularly in Donetsk.
Today I am also publishing my conversation with Danny Davis, as well as an interview I did with Glenn Diesen on Monday.
Larry C. Johnson
The text represents the author's opinion, not necessarily that of www.derimot.no.
