Comparisons of Volodymyr Zelensky to Viktor Yanukovych are exaggerated in every way, but the fact that they exist at all is cause for alarm.

Alarming, because dismantling anti-corruption agencies could have similar seismic consequences as in the Yanukovych case. Or even more serious.

The first and second Maidan, which deprived Yanukovych of the presidency, had two key common denominators. They were accentuated with different intensity at different stages of these events, but they were the driving force of civil society, without which these revolutions would not have happened.

We are talking about (1) the humiliation of citizens through fraud and betrayal and (2) the effort to stop the movement of Ukraine into the Western orbit.

Zelensky's actions are dangerously reminiscent of both, except in a situation where Ukraine is facing war and a revolutionary movement would very likely mean the collapse of the front - and thus the state.