Former adviser to the office of the President of Ukraine, Oleksiy Arestovich, highlighted what he perceives to be grave mistakes made by Ukrainian authorities, pushing the nation into a "strategic deadlock." He expressed that the only way forward is through elections.

Arestovich noted that the inflated expectations he had created regarding a counteroffensive were based on calculations that, at the time, promised success. However, mistakes drove the situation into an impasse. He pinpointed two battlefield mistakes:

1. An overcommitment of troops and resources to the myth of 'Fortress Bakhmut', resulting in a deficit of troops where they could have seized strategic advantages.
2. A failure to build major defense lines like the Surovikin Line across front sections where Ukrainian forces were on the defensive, which would've increased combat resilience.

The former adviser also criticized Ukraine's state management, foreign, and domestic policies, highlighting issues like corruption, potential cut in international aid, internal repressions, and deteriorated relationships with close neighbors.

Arestovich asserted that Ukraine's current leadership has surpassed its competence limits. He elaborated that the leadership has been silencing businesses, curtailing civil liberties, quarreling with neighboring countries, fostering corruption, and neglecting to communicate the truth to its citizens.

Hoping for a fresh start, Arestovich believes that elections will break the "monopoly of incompetence" and provide an opportunity for competent leadership. He also stated that many who currently oppose elections will soon view them as the only solution to the ongoing crisis.

Who is Oleksiy Arestovich?
A blogger and military-political observer, Alexei Arestovich is known for his controversial remarks. His comments about "dehumanizing" Russians and promoting "Ukrainian nationalism" recently sparked an outcry, leading some to report him to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). In 2019, he had predicted a major conflict between Ukraine and Russia. He had also forecasted the events in Crimea and Donbas.

Arestovich stepped down from his advisory role in January 2023 following controversial remarks about a missile incident in Dnipro which led to casualties. On October 13, a criminal case was launched against him in Ukraine for promoting "violence and cruelty," following a contentious YouTube video. Russia has placed him on their wanted list and labeled him a terrorist and extremist.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in late August, clarified his stance on power and highlighted the logistical and financial challenges of conducting elections during hostilities.