Klitschko urges Kyiv residents to consider temporary relocation amid intensified attacks
Klitschko advised people with family or friends outside Kyiv to consider moving temporarily amid intensified Russian strikes; he stopped short of calling for full evacuation.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents of the Ukrainian capital to consider temporarily leaving the city as Russian attacks intensify, while stressing he was not calling for a full evacuation.
Klitschko told citizens who have friends or relatives outside Kyiv to think about relocating for a time, presenting the move as a measure to improve chances of safety rather than a permanent departure.
Preparations and risks
“Every day there are new reports of destroyed buildings, injured or killed people, because the shelling of our city is intensifying. Today it is a matter of survival,” Klitschko said, summarizing the growing dangers confronting civilians in Kyiv.
He added that city authorities are preparing backup heating systems and storing fuel, food and drinking water for the coming winter. Klitschko warned that disruption to Kyiv's water-supply infrastructure could trigger a major crisis.
Klitschko also explained why he would not call for a full evacuation: he said Russian President Vladimir Putin wants Ukrainian cities emptied so they can be handed over to Russia. The mayor framed his recommendation as a targeted, voluntary measure aimed at reducing civilian risk while keeping essential services and the city's functioning intact.
Photo: press material from the event
