Klepach’s remarks gained widespread attention after excerpts from a speech circulated publicly and were picked up by Russian media. His assessment challenged expectations that Ukraine’s position would eventually collapse and questioned Russia’s ability to sustain its position in the wider economic and strategic competition surrounding the war.
In his speech, Klepach warned that Russia would not win “the competition in this war of attrition.” He also rejected the belief that Ukraine’s side was on the verge of collapse, saying: “We have the illusion that everything there will collapse. It has not collapsed, and it will not.”
The comments represented a notably pessimistic assessment of the conflict and its likely consequences. Rather than predicting an imminent breakdown on the Ukrainian side, Klepach argued that such expectations were based on an illusion. His remarks directly contrasted with the assumption that continued pressure would eventually force Ukraine’s side to give way.
Klepach also pointed to Russia’s broader position in international competition, saying the country was falling behind “not only to China and the United States – — in some respects, we are losing it to Ukraine.” The comparison extended his assessment beyond the immediate conduct of the war to Russia’s relative economic and competitive position.
He further warned of a potential social crisis, saying it could emerge “when no one particularly expects it.” In making the prediction, Klepach compared the possible consequences with the 1917 revolution and the Soviet collapse, invoking two major historical periods of upheaval and systemic change.
The remarks attracted attention rapidly, with Russian media widely reporting the quotes before Klepach’s dismissal. The timing of the firing has therefore drawn particular attention: he was removed from his position one day after the comments were widely picked up by Russian media.
Sources cited in connection with the dismissal said that VEB’s chairman acted after “a call from above”. The account suggests that the decision followed pressure from higher authorities, although the source material does not provide further details about who made the call or the precise circumstances surrounding the decision.
Klepach’s dismissal places his assessment of the war in sharp contrast with the expectations he criticised. His comments questioned the assumption that Ukraine would collapse, warned of a prolonged competition of attrition and highlighted Russia’s relative position against China, the United States and Ukraine.
The episode also illustrates the sensitivity surrounding public assessments of the war and its potential consequences. Klepach’s comments, which combined an assessment of Russia’s competitive position with a warning about possible domestic social upheaval, became widely circulated before his removal from VEB.RF.
With his firing following so quickly after the remarks went viral, the episode has become closely associated with the warnings he made about the war, Russia’s international position and the possibility of an unexpected social crisis.
