‘We Can No Longer Pretend’: Kyiv Faces Fight for Survival, Klitschko Warns

On Friday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned that keeping the Ukrainian capital functioning under repeated Russian attacks had become a matter of “safety and survival.” “The capital is in a very dramatic situation. We can no longer pretend that we can live as we would in peacetime,” Klitschko said following a meeting of Kyiv’s Defense Council on Oct. 2.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. His warning came as Russian strikes disrupted crossings over the Dnipro River. City authorities reported another hit on the Southern Bridge early on Friday and announced a full closure to road traffic that morning, alongside restrictions on two other bridges. Klitschko said the council discussed how to protect bridge users while maintaining essential transport connections between Kyiv’s left and right banks. Military officials, law enforcement officers, emergency responders, and municipal services submitted proposals that would be forwarded to central authorities. The mayor also outlined a condition for restoring Green Line metro services across the Southern Bridge during yellow-level air alerts: an expert assessment of the structure following Thursday’s attacks. The metro operator is ready to resume those services, he said, but must first receive a conclusion from research institutes approached by the infrastructure ministry. Beyond the immediate transport disruption, Klitschko described mounting pressure on the capital’s ability to function. Russian attacks were damaging infrastructure, logistics, homes, and public facilities, he said, while renewed strikes on the energy sector added to the strain. Other Topics of Interest Kremlin Urges US-Russia Deals Before Ukraine Settlement Peskov’s comments follow Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev’s Washington talks on ending the war and potential US-Russia energy projects after the conflict. “We are doing everything we can to keep the city functioning under constant destructive attacks, when the issue is no longer everyday comfort, but safety and survival,” he said. Klitschko urged the agencies represented on the Defense Council to coordinate their actions, make carefully considered decisions and communicate honestly with residents. “Now is not the time for populism,” he said. He called for the same public unity shown at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, arguing that Kyiv’s resilience depended on a shared understanding of the danger. “Kyiv will withstand this,” he said. “But only through joint efforts.” President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is targeting Kyiv’s civilian infrastructure and schools to pressure residents into leaving the capital. 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 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.