“Cutting the cat’s tail in pieces”: RBC-Ukraine deputy CEO explains which path of change Ukraine chose after the USSR’s collapse

In the run-up to the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence, which the country marks on 24 August 2026, RBC-Ukraine has launched a series of interviews with representatives of different political eras. As part of this project, Vladimir Kurennoy, Deputy General Director of RBC-Ukraine, appeared on the outlet’s podcast. His remarks focus on the key historical choice that faced all post-Soviet states immediately after the collapse of the USSR: between rapid, radical transformation and gradual, evolutionary development.

Two paths after the USSR’s collapse

According to Kurennoy, each CIS country was presented, in his words, with “two paths.” He conditionally called the first one “shock therapy” — rapid, very painful, but productive changes. The second path was gradual, evolutionary, and slow. It was precisely this second scenario, the speaker noted, that Ukraine chose, and, in his assessment, this choice largely determined the character of the country’s subsequent development and the pace at which its institutions took shape.

“Cutting the cat’s tail in pieces”: the metaphor of the evolutionary path

The main criticism of the evolutionary scenario put forward by Kurennoy is that it merely prolonged society’s suffering. To illustrate this, he used a vivid metaphor: “Ukraine, well, in my view, unfortunately, chose the evolutionary path, when the cat’s tail is cut off in pieces... every month, every year a piece is chopped off, and this cat suffers, because, well, it hurts.” In this way, the speaker emphasized that the slow nature of the reforms turned a single painful step into a prolonged series of repeated losses for society.

Comparison with the Baltics, Poland, and the Czech Republic

As an alternative example, Kurennoy cited the Baltic states, Poland, and the Czech Republic. In his words, these countries chose a radical scenario of transformation, which allowed them to build effective institutions faster and avoid a prolonged stay in the so-called “grey zone” of the post-Soviet economy. Against this backdrop, the evolutionary path of Ukraine, in the speaker’s assessment, turned out to be more drawn-out and less effective in institutional terms.

Context: the 35th anniversary of Independence and international congratulations

Kurennoy’s remarks were delivered on the holiday itself, 24 August, when Ukraine marks the 35th anniversary of its Independence. On this day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the nation with a special message. In addition, statements marking the occasion were publicly issued by King Charles III of the United Kingdom and Queen Consort Camilla, as well as by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. RBC-Ukraine’s series of interviews with representatives of different political eras continues on the outlet’s YouTube channel.

Nature of the statement

It is important to emphasize that the views expressed in the podcast are an expert assessment and the personal position of the Deputy General Director of RBC-Ukraine, and not an official conclusion of the state or the result of an academic study. The metaphors and comparisons with other countries reflect the author’s interpretation of the historical process, which should be taken into account when reading the material.