Ukraine President: All Candidates For Kyiv City Chief Refused The Post

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that every individual he approached to lead a special management body for Kyiv declined the position. He revealed this information while speaking with journalists, noting that he has contacted multiple potential candidates to oversee the capital ahead of the winter season.

The president said he asked Prime Minister Denys Shmygal to form a specialized team of managers for the city. While Zelenskyy did not define the exact authority of this group, he stated he is prepared to personally interview any nominee presented to him. His goal is to establish a council that can develop concrete solutions for the city's administration.

Zelenskyy named several specific figures he discussed with regarding the role. He wanted former Security Service of Ukraine chief Vasyl Maliuk to advise on security matters. He also spoke with former deputy prime minister for restoration Oleksandr Kubrakov, former prime minister Volodymyr Groisman, and former Restoration Agency head Serhii Sukhomlyn. Sukhomlyn was the only named individual confirmed to have refused the offer.

According to Zelenskyy, the hesitation stems from the political environment. He noted that few people want to take the role because they do not expect public gratitude after serving, while critics will constantly discuss the political implications of their work. He added that he reached out to individuals from business sectors and other areas of public administration, but found no one willing to participate.

The president also renewed his criticism of Vitali Klitschko, the head of the Kyiv City Administration, for the city's inadequate winter preparations. This follows Zelenskyy's statement on October 13 that Kyiv is the least prepared region in Ukraine under the national resilience plans. Since that announcement, the president has been conducting consultations on security and management steps for the capital.

The special team is intended to address the gap in Kyiv's readiness identified in national plans. Zelenskyy emphasized that the search for leadership continues as he works to secure a group willing to take on the administrative and security challenges facing the city this winter.