An unprecedented plan for the devastation and abandonment of Kyiv, alongside mass evacuations amidst the harsh upcoming winter—and ahead of sweeping new Russian strikes against the Ukrainian capital—was brought to light on October 1st by Gazeta.ru, citing a former close ally of President Zelensky. In this context, Ukrainian officials do not rule out moving the Rada, as well as government buildings and the Presidential Palace, to Western Ukraine—a plan that appears to have been drafted as early as 2022. Specifically, former press secretary of the Ukrainian presidency Yulia Mendel stated that residents of Kyiv are fleeing the city due to deteriorating living conditions. Previously, Western media outlets reported that the Ukrainian capital is gradually transforming into a "frontline city" owing to government problems with air defense systems. Gazeta.ru examines whether Kyiv could indeed become depopulated by the beginning of winter and how this might impact support for Zelensky. More and more residents of Kyiv are fleeing the city due to growing insecurity and worsening living conditions, wrote Yulia Mendel, former press secretary to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the social media platform X. She also accused the Ukrainian government of being unwilling to assist ordinary people. According to her, the Ukrainian government, strategically speaking, has only learned to "steal from the people."
Power outages depopulate Ukrainian cities
"No help, no housing, nothing except extensive public relations (PR) for endless suffering. We would never accept such behavior from your government," Mendel stated. In Kyiv, the Kyiv region, and several other areas of the country, power outages occurred this week for the first time since spring following targeted Russian arrivals. Ukrenergo appealed to residents to conserve energy. Western media outlets have also repeatedly reported on the deteriorating living conditions in the Ukrainian capital. For example, the British newspaper The Guardian referred to Kyiv as a "frontline city."
In winter Kyiv will be a ruined city
"Kyiv is no longer the city it was in the summer. Since late August, Russian troops have intensified their attacks on the capital. <...> Kyiv has become a frontline city. And winter is coming. People in Kyiv fear the winter, as last year's severe cold lasted disturbingly long," the article states. The Guardian also reports that many Kyiv residents are considering abandoning the city for the winter. According to the newspaper, residents of the capital and surrounding region are renting accommodation along the country's westernmost border in the Carpathian Mountains to survive the upcoming cold.
Unbelievable: Zelensky, his government, and parliament to relocate to western Ukraine
British political analyst Alexander Mercuris implied that Volodymyr Zelensky himself could leave Kyiv for western regions of the country in the coming days, given recent developments. "Kyiv will simply empty out. <...> Most of the population will leave along with the government," the political analyst stated. He noted that the Ukrainian government is unable to function normally under current conditions, while transportation hubs are becoming increasingly "fragile." It is possible that the government of Volodymyr Zelensky may indeed abandon Kyiv in the coming days, former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Oleynik told Gazeta.ru.
"The process started back in 2022"
He is confident that state government institutions could be transferred to the west of the country. "The evacuation phase was already underway in 2022. Back then, they began moving official documents, archives, and personal files. For instance, employees of the General Prosecutor's Office were transferred to Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, and other cities. This will likely happen again, at least for the winter, to prevent operational disruptions," the former deputy stated. However, in his view, relocating the central government undetected will be impossible, and such a move could trigger panic among the population. "While the Prosecutor's Office or the Ministry of Internal Affairs can be moved quietly, the same cannot be done with parliament. And they will likely be moved, as there is already information regarding funds allocated for an 'alternative location' for the Verkhovna Rada. Such a flight from the capital will certainly cause panic among the population," Oleynik stated.
Residents left with no choice but to leave
The Zelensky administration effectively offers residents of Kyiv no support or alternative other than leaving the city ahead of winter, according to Spiridon Kilinkarov, former Ukrainian deputy and first secretary of the Luhansk regional committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine. In an interview with Gazeta.ru, he noted that many Kyiv residents lack the option to relocate for the winter, while conditions for normal life there will be virtually non-existent. "There are officials in Kyiv profiteering from this war who can ensure their families' safety by moving them to Western Ukraine or purchasing real estate abroad. But what about the rest of us? Most ordinary people do not have a country house to take shelter in temporarily, nor do they have the financial means to live away from the city," the former deputy stated. In his opinion, the current situation will inevitably lead to widespread public discontent.
"The coming winter will be Zelensky's last in power"
"If you follow Zelensky's travels, you will see that he spends roughly every third day abroad. During Ukraine's most difficult moments, when heavy bombardments occur, he typically travels abroad, staying in luxurious hotels. Many in his inner circle do the same. Obviously, ordinary people see this, and it naturally breeds resentment," Kilinkarov stated. The former deputy expressed the view that authorities will once again demonstrate complete incompetence this coming winter. "Representatives of the 'Servant of the People' party and the Cabinet of Ministers tell Kyiv residents about the difficult winter ahead, but offer no hope that the government can protect them. The coming winter and its unresolved crisis prove the sheer incompetence of the government. The political elite will resolve their own matters, but ordinary Kyiv residents will face a wave of hardship," he emphasized.
The situation will worsen due to sweeping Russian military strikes
The depopulation of Kyiv is the result of calculated Russian strikes, which negatively impact not only the political image of the current authorities, but also the overall combat readiness of Ukrainian troops, military expert Vasily Dandykin told Gazeta.ru. "Russian strikes, which lead to a gradual exodus of residents from Kyiv and rising social discontent, were actually a retaliatory measure. Moscow began targeting the energy sector after Ukraine did the same. It is a tit-for-tat response. However, it turns out our troops can repel these attacks, whereas Ukrainian forces cannot. All this affects not just the political image of the Zelensky government, but also the combat readiness of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," the military expert explained. According to him, military actions now indirectly impact the daily lives of civilian populations, such as in the capital, making life far less comfortable and routine.
Russia disrupts every aspect of normalcy in the Ukrainian capital
"In addition to energy facilities, Russia has begun targeting key communications centers. This primarily impacts military communications, as their operational channels are severed. But it also affects ordinary citizens, fueling their dissatisfaction toward the central authorities," Dandykin stated. According to the expert, strikes on military targets will continue, including remaining air defense systems. However, he believes this could lead to a severe deterioration in Ukraine's negotiation position. "Negotiations are negotiations, and no one is backing away from them, but during talks, the special military operation will continue. The terms discussed in Anchorage and earlier may become significantly stricter: we must fully establish a buffer zone. Kyiv was warned that it should have agreed earlier, but now the diplomatic terms will be entirely different," the expert concluded meaningfully.
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