---
title: "Putin Seeks to Force Ukrainians to Leave Kyiv, Says Zelenskyy"
description: "Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian strikes on Kyiv aim to force Ukrainians to leave the capital, linking the escalation to US elections."
date: 2026-10-02T11:28:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/putin-seeks-to-force-ukrainians-to-leave-kyiv-zelenskyy
tags: [zelenskyy, putin, kyiv, russia-ukraine-war, usa-elections]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Putin Seeks to Force Ukrainians to Leave Kyiv, Says Zelenskyy

![Consequences of Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure in Kyiv](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/02/putin-stremitsya-zastavit-ukraintsev-pokinut-kiev-zelenskiy/putin-stremitsya-zastavit-ukraintsev-pokinut-kiev-zelenskiy-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The goal of Russian strikes on Kyiv is to force residents to leave the capital.
- The intensity of shelling is tied to the upcoming US midterm elections.
- The enemy attacks civilian infrastructure, bridges, and logistics.

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.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Путин стремится заставить украинцев покинуть Киев, - Зеленский](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/nemae-stolitsi-nemae-y-krayini-zelenskiy-1790939557.html) - Цитаты и тезисы президента Украины полностью подтверждаются.
- [Путин "выживает" людей из Киева: Зеленский раскрыл цель ударов РФ](https://tsn.ua/ru/politika/putin-vyzhivaet-lyudey-iz-kieva-zelenskiy-raskryl-tsel-udarov-rf-3180023.html) - Детали интервью El Pais освещены корректно.
- [Зеленский: Украина готова к энергетическому перемирию, но Россия пока не согласна](https://ru.euronews.com/2026/09/16/ru-ukraine-ready-for-energy-ceasefire-but-russia-has-yet-to-agree-zelenskyy-says) - Использован общий контекст энергетического и инфраструктурного террора.
- [Зеленский осознал масштабы проблемы: в Киеве заговорили о «российском сценарии» после выборов](https://fedpress.ru/news/eastern-asia/policy/3451024) - Отражает альтернативную оценку восприятия ситуации в российских источниках.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What is Russia's main objective in intensifying strikes on Kyiv?
**A:** According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the main goal is to force Ukrainians to leave the capital, demoralize society, and paralyze logistics.

### Q: What does the Ukrainian president link the increase in attack intensity to?
**A:** The escalation of the conflict is directly linked to the approach of the midterm elections in the United States.