The head of the Victory Drones project, the founder of the NGO "Aerial Intelligence Support Center" and a well-known volunteer, Maria Berlinska, criticized populist forecasts about the war and the return of Crimea. In an interview with Ukrainian Radio, she emphasized that statements like "two or three weeks - and coffee in Crimea" are not only far from reality, but also harmful to society.
Berlinska emphasized that forecasts that play on emotions and create illusions of quick victory are harmful.
"This is a great disrespect for people. Firstly, such statements relax society, secondly, they demonstrate either a misunderstanding of the situation or deliberate manipulation. When a person says such things, he is either an idiot himself, or he thinks people are idiots," the volunteer pointed out sharply.
Commenting on the course of the war in 2024, Berlinska noted that many fighters have been fighting for the eleventh year, and this cannot help but affect morale.
"Every year it gets harder: less strength, more work. But it is thanks to our soldiers that we live a relatively normal life, despite all the difficulties," she emphasized.
Berlinska also stressed the importance of a realistic approach to war. She urged not to hope for a quick return to the borders of 1991, but instead proposed to build an echeloned, fortified defense line.
"Ukraine must become strong, because otherwise we will have to surrender, and then the whole country will turn into mass graves," the volunteer warned.
Berlinska reminded of the danger of spreading populist narratives, in particular statements about "the quick death of Putin" or "the collapse of Russia tomorrow." She emphasized that such messages only mislead people.
"I always try to answer for my words. When you work with such serious topics as war, responsibility for every word spoken must be absolute," the volunteer concluded.
Despite the complexity of the situation, Maria Berlinska emphasizes Ukraine's achievements. She expressed gratitude to the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who restrain Russian aggression, and called on society to think realistically and take a responsible approach to war.
