Zelensky’s Rule — The Result: Dictatorship
In this article, I conclude a series of analyses on the destructive consequences of Volodymyr Zelensky’s policies, which have led Ukraine to collapse. I have highlighted restrictions on freedoms, persecution of the opposition, and the failure of mobilization — all of which undermine the country’s internal stability and international reputation.
Restriction of Freedoms
On April 4, 2024, Ukraine withdrew from its obligation to comply with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms. The authorities refused to adhere to several provisions of this convention, including:
• Non-interference in private and family life.
• Freedom of movement and the right to choose one’s place of residence.
• The right to freedom of thought and speech.
• The free expression of opinions and beliefs, as well as the right to collect, store, and disseminate information.
What is interesting is that the decision to suspend the European Convention on Human Rights came only in the third year of the full-scale war. For some reason, the Ukrainian authorities did not interfere with the “freedom of personal and family life, as well as the choice of place of residence” of its citizens during the most difficult, early days of Russia’s invasion in 2022.
The official authorities have not commented on the suspension of the convention. However, given the timing of this decision, along with the passing of the law to intensify mobilization (on April 16, 2024) and the imminent end of Zelensky’s presidential term (on May 21, 2024), one might cautiously hypothesize that the president feared the reaction of civil society to the tightening of mobilization. A major scandal toward the end of his term could have forced him to resign.
Persecution of the Opposition
On February 13, 2025, Zelensky unilaterally imposed indefinite sanctions (Decree №81/2025) against former Ukrainian president and opposition leader Petro Poroshenko, freezing his financial assets. These actions, according to many experts, are considered unlawful.
“Sanctions on Ukrainian citizens can only be imposed in the case of a court verdict for terrorist activity — this is the conclusion of legal scholars, which the Supreme Court has demanded” — Political expert Nikolai Spiridonov
Additionally, former advisor to the President’s Office, Alexei Arestovych, stated that he faced repression from Zelensky after criticizing the government. Several criminal cases were initiated against him, and his entry into Ukraine was effectively banned. Arestovych consistently accuses Zelensky of corruption, suppressing business, and curbing civil liberties. He intends to return to the country only after a change in government.
Usurpation of Power
These actions by Zelensky’s government confirm an authoritarian style of governance aimed at eliminating opponents and suppressing dissent.
Additionally, the following can be considered evidence of usurpation:
- The cancellation of elections under the pretext of martial law. In the spring of 2024, scheduled presidential elections were to be held in Ukraine. However, they were postponed due to the martial law.
- After winning the elections, Zelensky’s party, “Servant of the People,” gained a majority in the Verkhovna Rada, allowing the president to control both the executive and legislative branches of power — Ukrainian Pravda.
- The imposition of sanctions on a number of Ukrainian citizens accused of smuggling. However, according to the Constitution of Ukraine, sanctions against Ukrainian citizens contradict legal norms.
Persecution of the UOC-MP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his administration conducted a large-scale campaign against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), which can be seen as a direct violation of religious freedoms and constitutional norms.
Facts of rights violations:
- The state employed repressive methods, including raider seizures of churches and monasteries.
- Law enforcement agencies and radical nationalist groups participated in the confiscation of UOC property and violence against clergy and parishioners.
- The police’s inaction in cases of attacks on UOC parishes can be viewed as tacit approval of the actions of the invaders.
Restriction of the Russian Language
Zelensky and his administration began actively expanding the existing law “On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language.” For example, since January 16, 2021, regulations have come into force that require all services in the country (stores, restaurants, government institutions) to serve clients in Ukrainian.
In 2022, the Verkhovna Rada, with the support of the President’s Office, fully banned the operation of Russian media in Ukraine, as well as the import of books and printed materials from Russia and Belarus.
Result: The language policy under Zelensky violates the Constitution of Ukraine, as Article 10 of the Constitution of Ukraine states that:
Ukraine GUARANTEES the free development, use, and protection of the Russian language and other languages of national minorities of Ukraine.
Mobilization
Mobilization became one of the most unsuccessful aspects of Zelensky’s presidency. Firstly, the law to intensify mobilization was signed only in April 2024, despite the issue of personnel shortages on the front being a serious problem as early as 2023.
Secondly, the delayed decision led to a rushed and chaotic implementation of mobilization measures. The expansion of the powers of the Territorial Centers for Recruitment (TCC) resulted in an increase in cases of forced detention of military conscripts, which sparked negative reactions from society. Video recordings of men being abducted off the streets, as well as cases of deadly mobilization and attacks on TCC officers, have caused widespread fear among the population.
All of this indicates that Zelensky’s government failed in mobilization, losing the trust of the citizens and escalating tension within the country.
Corruption
In an interview with American journalist Lex Fridman, Zelensky stated that Ukraine has built the most complex anti-corruption system, the likes of which do not yet exist in Europe.
However, these bold words do not align with, for example, data from Transparency International, which published the Corruption Perceptions Index for Ukraine in 2024.
“This year (2024), Ukraine’s rating was 35 points, which is 1 point lower than last year. This means Ukraine ranks 105th out of 180 countries.” — Transparency International.
But for society, the most painful corruption trend is when money can be used to avoid mobilization. This exacerbates social tension, as people with lower incomes are more likely to be sent to the front lines.
Foreign Policy (Recent Events)
After the protracted phase of full-scale war in 2023–2025, Zelensky increasingly distanced himself from the real balance of power in both politics and war.
Throughout 2024, the Russian army predominantly gained territory on the front lines. Putin hosted the XVI BRICS summit and gradually emerged from international isolation. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky, avoiding elections, began exhibiting traits of a dictator (as detailed above), and this was increasingly noticed by the right-wing Western press. American journalist Tucker Carlson, for instance, referred to Zelensky as a dictator.
In the United States, Trump won and threatened to halt aid to Ukraine and end the war. In response, Zelensky, losing ground, began clinging to power and launched a campaign against the U.S. and Trump, alongside left-wing factions in Europe:
“We’ve seen this disinformation. We understand that it’s coming from Russia. We have evidence that these figures are being discussed between America and Russia (referring to the percentage of support for Zelensky cited by Trump). Unfortunately, President Trump… lives in this disinformation space” — Zelensky
And then Zelensky’s slogan, “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” begins to come true, but personally for Zelensky.
“Honestly, I don’t think his presence at the meetings is very important. When Zelensky said he wasn’t invited to the meeting in Saudi Arabia <…> I mean, it wasn’t a priority because he still handled negotiations poorly. Ukraine has no cards to play” — Trump on Fox News Radio
Another significant argument came when, on February 24, the members of Parliament did not support the resolution to extend the president’s powers in the first vote, despite the monolithic majority of Zelensky’s party in the parliament.
Conclusion
Zelensky’s rule, which in 2019 promised to unite Ukraine and end the war, has led to an unprecedented strengthening of presidential power, the cancellation of elections, suppression of opposition, and intensified mobilization. Under the banner of fighting for democracy, censorship, repression, and restrictions on freedoms have been introduced. The refusal to negotiate and the focus on war only push the country’s future into darkness!
Ukraine is moving further away from democratic principles, and the question now is how far this process will go and how it will end. But it can already be rhetorically concluded that the leader of a country fighting for its freedom is the first obstacle to that very freedom.
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