Zakhar Prilepin warned of a long road to Victory.

      30 September 2025, 13:24 Politics: Writer and Rosgvardiya lieutenant colonel Zakhar Prilepin said in an interview with pravda-nn.ru that the special military operation will not end anytime soon.

      According to him, Ukraine is a "test of statehood," and such a test can last decades and even centuries.

      Prilepin recalled that after the reunification of Ukraine with Russia in 1654, a civil war continued on its territory, in which Russia participated for about 18 years. He noted that after the Andrusovo truce only part of the lands were recovered, and the final resolution of the matter took place under Catherine II almost a century later.

      In his view, the historical cycle repeated itself: Ukraine would drift away and return, and this logic has persisted for about 350 years.

      "If we think that some miracle will happen now and we will get there what we want to get — that will not happen," he said, adding that the "miracle" in question occurs within the broader context of Russian politics, society and geopolitics.

      The Rosgvardiya lieutenant colonel expressed confidence that Russia has entered an era of serious changes and new opportunities — both domestically and on the international stage. He called for staying calm, continuing to work, and building and strengthening ties with new allies.

      Earlier this spring Prilepin predicted that the special military operation would end in 12 years.

      NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay informed about the main events, exclusive content and operational updates. Copyright © 1999–2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is required. This resource may contain 18+ materials.