Russia Wants to Force Kyiv Residents Out of Capital, Zelensky Says

Russia is deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and schools in Kyiv to force residents to leave the capital, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Speaking to Spain’s El País near a Kyiv school hit by a Russian drone, Zelensky said Moscow’s strategy is aimed not only at damaging the city but at driving out its population.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. He also said Russia is timing its escalation around the US political calendar, with the US midterm elections serving as a key target for the Kremlin’s strategy. According to Zelensky, strikes on civilian sites and schools are designed to create the impression of Russian strength while putting enough pressure on Kyiv residents to leave the city. The president said Moscow was using tactics similar to those seen at the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, when Russia sought to seize or paralyze Kyiv and undermine Ukraine’s government. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Friday warned that the capital was facing an increasingly severe situation as Russian attacks continued to damage critical infrastructure, logistics, housing and social facilities. “We cannot pretend that we can live as we did in peacetime,” Klitschko said after a meeting of Kyiv’s Defense Council, attended by military officials, the Security Service of Ukraine, emergency services and law enforcement. “The enemy is destroying Kyiv,” he said, adding that Russia had also resumed attacks on the city’s energy infrastructure. Other Topics of Interest SBU Nabs 2 Zaporizhzhia Teenagers Accused of Moscow-Backed Assassination Plot Two teenagers from Zaporizhzhia were arrested by law enforcement as they were reportedly preparing to murder Ukrainian servicemen on orders from Russia’s FSB. Klitschko called on the city’s services to coordinate their response, make measured decisions and provide residents with honest information about the situation. “We are ensuring the city’s vital functions with all our strength under constant devastating attacks,” he said. “This is no longer about the usual comfort, but about safety and survival.” Klitschko said Kyiv would “withstand the attacks” but warned that doing so would require a united response from residents and authorities. Zelensky also acknowledged that defending against the attacks has become more difficult because of limited resources and gaps in the international sanctions regime. He said those gaps allow Russia to continue expanding its military capabilities, with support from China and India. The comments came as Kyiv faced major transport disruptions on Oct. 2 following Russian attacks. Traffic across several bridges was partially or completely restricted, while at least four hits were reported on the Southern Bridge within 24 hours. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.