Zelenskyy: All Kyiv Winter Chiefs Refused Leadership

Residents of Ukraine’s capital face a new layer of administrative uncertainty after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that all candidates for a special winter management role have declined the position. The president confirmed that no one wants to lead the city through the upcoming cold season.

Zelenskyy disclosed the details during a meeting with journalists. He said he spoke with various managers about heading the Kyiv Administration, but every individual turned the offer down. The lack of interest stems from a perceived lack of gratitude and constant political scrutiny, according to the president.

The president has tasked Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, referred to in the source as Koretskyi, with assembling a specialized team of managers. Zelenskyy did not define the specific powers this group would hold. He stated he is prepared to speak personally with whoever the prime minister names to make specific requests.

Zelenskyy aimed to include Vasyl Maliuk, the former chief of the Security Service of Ukraine, to advise on security. He also approached Oleksandr Kubrakov, the former deputy prime minister for restoration, and Volodymyr Groisman, a former prime minister. Serhii Sukhomlyn, the former head of the Restoration Agency, formally declined the offer.

The move follows Zelenskyy’s assertion on 13 October that Kyiv is the least-prepared region in Ukraine according to national resilience plans. He has since begun consultations on security and management steps. During the recent address, he again criticized Mayor Vitali Klitschko for the city’s inadequate winter preparation.

The president emphasized that the new council aims to work out solutions without the political burden that deterred previous candidates. He noted that business leaders and public administration figures were also contacted, but none expressed a desire to be involved in the process.