“Shot in the Milk”: Why the Kremlin Drew Yanukovych Out Again and Who the Show Is for
3 September 2025 14:05
Russian propaganda has once again “pulled” Yanukovych out of oblivion to promote the narrative of his allegedly pro-European policies. However, even in his own words, the former president contradicts himself: he declares his desire for the EU, but at the same time justifies Putin and attacks Europe. In the video, he said that he had once “purposefully worked to bring Ukraine closer to the EU,” but that the Europeans allegedly behaved incorrectly. Taras Stetskiv, an MP of five convocations, calls this information campaign a “shot in the dark,” as Yanukovych has long since lost all legitimacy. However, what audience the show was intended for and how Ukrainians perceived Yanukovych’s outing – in the "Komersant Ukrainian"‘s article.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) emphasize: The Kremlin probably timed Yanukovych’s statement to coincide with Vladimir Putin’s speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organizationsummit. In this way, the Russian authorities are trying to give “legitimacy” to the dictator’s demands for a change of government in Ukraine.
Indeed, the last time Yanukovych appeared in public space was in July 2022, when he called on Ukrainians to surrender to Russia. Now, he has started his new address by saying that Putin is “absolutely right” – which may indicate a pre-planned information operation.
“The publication of Yanukovych’s video in Russian state media was probably deliberately timed to coincide with Putin’s remarks. The Kremlin may be preparing the ground to name Yanukovych as the legitimate leader of Ukraine instead of Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” ISW emphasizes.
However, experts remind that such statements have no legal basis. Yanukovych fled the country after the Revolution of Dignity, and since then, Ukraine has held several democratic elections in which the people elected new legitimate presidents.
“A shot in the milk”: ex-MP explains why the Kremlin pulled out Yanukovych
Former fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych has been used again in Russian propaganda, this time for a video message about his alleged role in “bringing Ukraine closer to the EU.” However, according to Taras Stetskiv, a member of parliament of five convocations, this Kremlin’s information campaign is doomed to failure.
“No one in the world believes in Yanukovych’s legitimacy. It was more than 10 years ago. His escape is a clear proof that he is no longer the president,” emphasized Taras Stetskiv.
He reminded that the Verkhovna Rada had decided back in 2014: Yanukovych himself removed himself from office. Simply put, he was overthrown by the people’s uprising, the politician added. According to the MP, the idea to put Yanukovych back on the air will have no positive effect either for Moscow or for the Kremlin’s international partners.
“I don’t think China can react positively to such mothballs,” Stetskiv explained.
He believes that the return of Yanukovych to the media space shows that Putin lacks the resources to put pressure on Ukraine.
“He has no more figures to put on the table. This is a shot in the dark that will not end in anything but mocking memes. Tomorrow it will be forgotten,” Stetskiv summarized.
Yanukovych is “alive” again: social networks do not hold back irony
The reaction of Ukrainians on social media was not long in coming. Vitaliy Vantsa jokes:
“This is what I understand)))
Yanukovych promised that if he wins the election, in addition to $8, every Ukrainian will get the same fucking shiny veneer teeth!”
MP Liza Bogutska adds:
“Yanukovych has risen from the grave again. With new teeth, which are inserted into his mouth in the morgue so that his lips do not fall through. A European integrator.”
Many users recall that the last time Russia used Yanukovych was in 2022, when he was brought to Minsk. Back then, Putin still had hopes that Zelenskyy could escape, and a ready-made president was on the way.
They remind us that under Poroshenko, Yanukovych was not officially stripped of the title of “president,” which gives the Kremlin the opportunity to “return” him to the media space from time to time.
Commentators draw attention to the Kremlin’s obvious intention:
“If Fedorich appeared, it means that Putin is doing badly, but ‘not horrible, horrible, horrible. Bullets in the temple’. The momentum is back on track.”
Yanukovych seems to have once again become a symbol of amusing absurdity, and social media is not sparing with sarcasm.
