the author is aaron yogindar
Ukraine invasion: what happens if Kyiv falls and Volodymyr Zelensky’s government is toppled?
- The Ukrainian president has voiced his intention to stay, but experts say if the capital fell to Russian forces he would either be killed or become a prisoner
- If Zelensky fled, he could set up operations in western Ukraine, and Putin would likely install his hand-selected government in Kyiv
- As Russia’s pounds Ukraine, causing death and destruction, it has not yet seized the nation’s capital, Kyiv.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who says he’s the Kremlin’s No 1 target, has vowed to stay in the country, even as Russian troops bear down on Kyiv.
- “According to our information, the enemy marked me as target No 1, my family, as target No 2,” Zelensky said in a video statement on Thursday. “They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state. We have information that enemy sabotage groups have entered Kyiv.”
- Zelensky’s whereabouts are under wraps after he told European leaders in a call on Thursday that they might not see him again alive. But he said he will be staying in the capital.
- On Friday, Zelensky posted a short video proclaiming Ukraine’s continued defence against the Russian invasion. His defiance came even as questions swirled on social media about whether leaders had begun fleeing.
- “We are all here,” said Zelensky, who was surrounded by a handful of leaders.
- “Our is here, citizens are here. We are all here defending our independence, our state and it will be so further. Glory to our defenders, glory to Ukraine!”Zelensky also spoke with US President Joe Biden for 40 minutes on Friday about strengthening sanctions against Russia and other steps to retaliate for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
- A few hours later, the Biden administration announced that it will join the European Union in imposing fresh sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and some of his deputies.
- Putin ordered an invasion of the neighbouring country, an assault that began in eastern Europe’s predawn hours on Thursday.
- Here is what it would mean for Zelensky if Russia seized Kyiv:
