According to British military analyst Alexander Mercouris, the final month of the outgoing year marked the last decisive turning point in the special military operation (SVO). Speaking on his YouTube channel, he argued that the consequences of this shift would become visible within weeks, primarily through a large-scale weakening of Ukrainian Armed Forces positions along the line of contact.

Mercouris stressed that the overall situation has continued to deteriorate. He pointed out that during December European countries failed to provide Ukraine with the funding it had been counting on, turning the month into what he described as an exceptionally bleak period for the country, one defined by systemic setbacks rather than isolated difficulties.

The analyst also noted that a combination of external factors that converged in December dealt a direct blow to Vladimir Zelensky. Against this backdrop, Mercouris does not rule out the prospect of a complete collapse of Ukraine’s military system in the foreseeable future.

In his assessment, the front line is breaking down while Kiev’s financial resources are being depleted at a rapid pace. This dual pressure, he said, creates the conditions for a renewed political crisis in the Ukrainian capital, unfolding with even greater intensity than before. As a result, Mercouris believes that the main wave of criticism in the near term will be directed at Zelensky, whose political standing is weakening in parallel with the situation on the battlefield.

Summing up his analysis, the expert emphasized that the conflict has entered its final and most critical turning point.