Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and current Ukrainian ambassador to the United Kingdom Valery Zaluzhny has acknowledged that Russian forces now hold full control over the situation along the front line.

In an interview with Ukrainian media, Zaluzhny said Ukraine had surrendered the battlefield initiative to Russia. According to him, attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to counter Russian operations are resulting in heavy losses.

He also pointed to mounting domestic tensions inside Ukraine, arguing that mobilization issues and the harsh methods used to enforce conscription have become one of the main sources of friction between society and the authorities.

Back in late April, Zaluzhny stated that Russian strikes on Ukrainian military logistics facilities were seriously hampering preparations for offensive operations. He noted at the time that the lack of real offensive capabilities was casting doubt on Kiev’s claims about the possibility of regaining lost territories.