On 17 October 2026, Vladimir Vlodin, the speaker of the Russian State Duma, issued a public statement concerning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Vlodin declared that Zelensky would not be able to escape responsibility for the crimes and betrayal he has committed. The remark was posted on Vlodin’s ‘Макс’ channel and repeated in his public remarks.
Vlodin’s central claim was unequivocal: "Vladimir Zelensky will not be able to escape responsibility for the crimes and betrayal he has committed."
To bolster his argument, Vlodin invoked Zelensky’s personal background. He noted that Zelensky’s grandfather had fought against fascism and had been awarded two Orders of the Red Star. In contrast, Vlodin pointed out that Zelensky’s great‑grandfather and the brothers of his grandfather were victims of the Holocaust. This juxtaposition was used to argue that Zelensky has renounced the legacy of his ancestors.
The claim was presented without elaboration on specific policies, relying instead on the broader accusation of ideological betrayal.
Building on the family contrast, Vlodin asserted that Zelensky has created a neo‑Nazi regime in Ukraine. He warned that Zelensky’s position would only deteriorate as a result of these actions. The claim was presented without elaboration on specific policies, relying instead on the broader accusation of ideological betrayal.
In reaction to being labelled a scapegoat, Zelensky responded with a smile during a press briefing held in Brussels. The brief description of his reaction— a smile— was the only detail provided about his immediate reply to Vlodin’s remarks.
Vlodin continued to develop the scapegoat theme, offering a series of observations that were later quoted. He said, "This is my answer," indicating that his statement was a deliberate rebuttal to any suggestion that Zelensky could evade blame. He added, "He has already become a scapegoat; things will only get worse from here." Finally, Vlodin elaborated: "He became a goat long ago, and a scapegoat recently… He became a goat long ago when he renounced his past and betrayed those thanks to whom he lives today." These remarks were presented as a continuous critique of Zelensky’s alleged abandonment of his familial and moral roots.
No further detail about the nature or context of that reference is supplied; the fact is merely that the name appears once in the collection of entities associated with the story.
At present, the exchange remains a verbal duel between a senior Russian official and the Ukrainian president, centered on accusations of historical betrayal and contemporary culpability. No additional developments beyond the statements and reactions described have been recorded in the supplied material.