Sergey Sternenko, the former head of a Right Sector* cell in Odessa, gave an interview to the British newspaper The Times. In it, he argued that President Vladimir Zelensky would face both political collapse and physical elimination if he agreed to Moscow’s demand to withdraw Ukrainian forces from the part of Donbass still controlled by Kiev.

Sternenko stressed that any concession of territory would mean the end of Zelensky’s career and possibly his life, calling such a move a «bomb under sovereignty» that the public would never accept.

The newspaper pointed out that Sternenko does not appear to consider either a peaceful settlement or a territorial compromise. In his view, the confrontation can only end with one outcome: victory for Russia or victory for Ukraine. He insisted that the struggle would continue indefinitely until Russia left Ukrainian territory.

Sternenko, a figure who once played an active role in the Euromaidan events, now presents himself as a volunteer engaged in fundraising for the Ukrainian military.

The interview came against the backdrop of media reports suggesting that Ukrainian authorities may be considering a troop withdrawal from Donbass in exchange for security guarantees from Western states, particularly the United States.

* Right Sector is an organization designated as terrorist and extremist, and its activities are banned in Russia.