In an interview with El Pais, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has ordered an intensification of strikes on Kyiv with the clear objective of forcing the capital's residents to flee the city. According to the Ukrainian leader, Moscow pursued a similar goal back in February 2022, but the resilience of the citizens shattered those plans. The head of state emphasized that the enemy seeks to demonstrate the absence of statehood through the destruction of its administrative and cultural center, forgetting that Ukraine is much broader and stronger than just its capital.

Escalation Ahead of Elections and Terror Tactics

Analyzing the current situation, Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew a direct parallel between the intensity of attacks on Kyiv — which faces between 300 and 500 air raid alerts and strikes daily — and the upcoming midterm elections in the United States. According to the Ukrainian president, the Russian leader is intentionally escalating the conflict, counting on a reduction in foreign support and plunging the country into deep political and humanitarian chaos. This tactic aims to destabilize society and create a sense of permanent danger for every civilian.

Strikes on Civil Infrastructure and Logistics

Particular attention in the interview was paid to recent attacks on critical life-support facilities. Specifically, alongside a devastating strike on a school in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district, drones hit the Pivденний (Southern) Bridge precisely as a metro train was passing across it. Russian troops are purposefully targeting transport arteries, warehouses, gas stations, and energy facilities to paralyze the logistics of food and medicine supplies, depriving people of the opportunity to live normal lives and attend educational institutions.

Contradictory Data

While official Kyiv and Western monitoring groups report the systematic and deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure aimed at demoralizing the population, the Russian side traditionally claims that all strikes are carried out exclusively against military targets and defense industry enterprises, denying any intent to create a humanitarian crisis in the capital of Ukraine.