Former chief designer of the Antonov State Enterprise, Anatoly Vovnyanko, sharply criticized the current situation in the country in an interview with political analyst and Hvylya editor-in-chief Yuriy Romanenko, citing catastrophic losses to the nation's gene pool and what he views as flawed diplomatic rhetoric by the state leadership.
Discussing the situation at the front and his visits to memorial sites, Vovnyanko highlighted the disparity in human losses. He noted that while Russia mobilizes marginalized segments of the population, Ukraine is losing its elite.
"While Russia recruited all sorts of 'villagers,' the poor, drunks, and drug addicts... on Ukraine's side, a whole generation has perished. This involves hundreds of thousands of young people," he stated.
The designer emphasized that Ukrainian casualties include "athletes, opera singers, outstanding artists, and performers." He questioned the justification of such sacrifices for the geopolitical goals of partners: "It turns out we are a military outpost that must sacrifice its entire young generation..."
Vovnyanko also criticized the Ukrainian authorities' diplomatic approach toward Vladimir Putin. Drawing an analogy with criminal elements he encountered in his youth, he noted that public insults directed at the enemy only hinder potential negotiations.
"If you are dealing with such a fool, you shouldn't show off... or call him names," Vovnyanko remarked, adding a historical example: "For some reason, neither Stalin nor Hitler called each other names. That's what the Kukryniksy were for, people of lower rank did that."
According to the aircraft designer, personal insults make high-level dialogue impossible: "I tell a friend... 'You realize that Putin will never meet with him.'"
Summarizing his thoughts on the war, Vovnyanko admitted he expected it to end in 2024, as there is "no point" in continuing hostilities at such a cost.