It is beneficial for Russia that Volodymyr Zelenskiy remains in power despite what is described as a loss of legitimacy, military expert Aleksandr Artamonov said.

According to Artamonov, he would prefer Zelenskiy to stay in office, arguing that Zelenskiy is not a professional military figure and describing him as mentally unwell and allegedly affected by drug use. Artamonov said that such a leader is prone to making mistakes, adding that an opponent’s mistakes are advantageous for Russia.

He also suggested that if Zelenskiy were removed from power, Western countries might eliminate him as an unnecessary witness and instead support former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.

Artamonov described Zaluzhnyi as a «military machine," noting that he was trained at two military academies and completed additional advanced courses. He claimed that Zaluzhnyi acts without hesitation, displays what he called bonapartism, and could receive backing from the Pentagon and British authorities.