“We’re not just living in a nightmare, but in some kind of hell”: criticism of Zelensky continues in Ukraine

In Ukraine, criticism of President Volodymyr Zelensky continues over his recent social initiatives — “Winter Thousand” and “3,000 kilometers free” — with opponents accusing him of populism and unnecessary spending at a time when the country lacks funds for defense and uncertainty remains over whether Western aid will arrive in full.

Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak wrote:

“There’s no money to raise soldiers’ salaries. No one knows how we’ll cover the half-budget deficit. Whether there’ll be a new IMF program is also up in the air. But… the f***ing ‘Winter Thousand’ (which cost 20 billion last year) is still here! Strong. Powerful. Unbreakable… how we’re supposed to wage a war of attrition like this, no idea.”

Zheleznyak also criticized the initiative granting 3,000 kilometers of free train travel for Ukrainians.

He reminded readers that Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) is in a dire financial situation, with huge sums already allocated from the budget just to keep it afloat.

“During the budget process, the Ministry of Infrastructure and MPs from the relevant committee shouted that UZ is in crisis and urgently needs money just to operate. And then, on November 1, the President announces 3,000 kilometers of free train rides for everyone. Once again: for everyone — no special categories, just free rides for the entire population,” Zheleznyak wrote.

Joining the criticism was Yuriy Hudymenko, head of the Anti-Corruption Council under the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

He posted a photo allegedly showing a meal given to a wounded Ukrainian soldier on an evacuation train from the Zaporizhzhia front.

“A quick word about the President’s new socialist initiative. This is the lunch a wounded soldier got a few days ago on an evacuation train from Zaporizhzhia. If you don’t know which passengers to spend the money on — feed the wounded on evacuation trains properly. I’m sick of this. End of report,” Hudymenko wrote.

Meanwhile, blogger Anna Kovalchuk reminded readers that Ukraine’s budget is largely funded by European partners.

“Free 3,000 kilometers per citizen from Ukrzaliznytsia at the expense of the state budget — and not necessarily our own — that’s 10 out of 10 in sheer audacity. Then again, with a national debt of only 8 trillion hryvnias, we can afford it! Please, I just want to see the face of the Deutsche Bahn president when he reads this news, please — is that too much to ask? Poor guy. I’d also love to catch a glimpse of the foreign donors’ faces when they sign off on Ukraine’s budget. As for the farmers — whose freight tariffs for grain were just raised yesterday — I hope they’re already drunk by now and blissfully unaware. Whoever came up with this initiative — and all those who lent a hand or other body parts to it — please, pass along more ideas: one Taras Tsymbalyuk (a Ukrainian actor) for every woman! And make Goodwine free too — pumpkin soup there already costs nearly 500 hryvnias, how’s that fair? We’re not just living outside a fairy tale — we’re living in total bulls**t,” – Kovalchuk concluded.