Zelenskyy discloses who was invited to head Kyiv ahead of winter

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said everyone he offered the job of head of Kyiv City Administration to turned it down. He had considered several candidates to lead a special management body for Kyiv ahead of winter.

Source: Zelenskyy during a meeting with journalists, as reported by Ukrinform

Quote: "I spoke with various managers about whether they want to head the Kyiv Administration. No one wants to."

Details: Zelenskyy also said he has asked Prime Minister Koretskyi to assemble a special team of managers for Kyiv. The president did not specify what powers the team would have.

Quote: "I am ready to speak personally with whoever they name to me and make a request to them. Set up a council and work out solutions."

Details: Zelenskyy added that he wanted Vasyl Maliuk, former chief of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), to join the group to advise on security matters. The president also spoke to Oleksandr Kubrakov, former deputy prime minister for restoration, Volodymyr Groisman, former prime minister, and Serhii Sukhomlyn, former head of the Restoration Agency. Sukhomlyn declined the offer.

Quote: "I spoke with people from business, from other spheres of public administration. No one wants to be involved, because afterwards no one will say thank you and others will constantly talk about politics."

More details: Zelenskyy again criticised Vitali Klitschko for poor preparation of Kyiv for the winter.

Background: On 13 October, Zelenskyy said that Kyiv is the least-prepared region in Ukraine according to the country's resilience plans. He has therefore begun consultations on "security and management steps".

Your support on Patreon helps us keep the news free and accessible.