"It is a matter of survival": Klitschko advised Kyiv residents who have the opportunity to leave temporarily
The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, against the backdrop of intensified Russian attacks, recommended that residents who have relatives or friends outside the capital consider the possibility of temporarily leaving the city. However, he emphasized that he is not calling for a full evacuation of Kyiv.
"It is about survival": Klitschko advised Kyiv residents who have the opportunity to leave temporarily
Klitschko said this in an interview with the AFP agency, which was published on October 8.
"As attacks on our city intensify, new reports of destroyed buildings, wounded and dead people are coming in every day. Today, it is about survival," the mayor said.
His recommendation is primarily aimed at citizens who have the opportunity to temporarily live outside of Kyiv.
### Water supply disruption could lead to a major crisis
Klitschko warned that a large-scale crisis could arise in the capital if the water supply system fails as a result of Russian attacks.
At the same time, he said he was not calling on all residents to leave the city. According to the mayor, the emptying of Ukrainian cities serves the interests of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"The best scenario for Putin is for all of us to leave and leave our empty cities and our entire country to him," Klitschko said.
The mayor announced that the city administration is setting up backup heating systems as part of preparations for winter. Fuel, food, and drinking water reserves are also being accumulated.
However, Klitschko emphasized that preparation alone cannot eliminate all risks. According to him, if the air defense system fails to repel the strikes, the city could find itself in a difficult situation.
According to DW, Russian attacks on Kyiv intensified in September. In early October, bridges connecting the right and left banks of the city across the Dnipro River were also struck.
Targets of the attacks also include energy, communication, and railway infrastructure facilities.
On October 3, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia is trying to force the population to leave Kyiv and other major cities through air attacks.