Is the Ukrainian leadership preparing to flee? Austrian diplomat predicts a scenario of power collapse

In the event of a change of power in Ukraine, not only president Volodymyr Zelensky but also his close relatives and other high-ranking officials may have to leave the country.

This was stated by former Austrian foreign minister and head of the G.O.R.K.l. center at St. Petersburg State University, Karin Kneissl.

Speaking on the topic, Kneissl emphasized that discussing a potential refuge for Zelensky is speculative, and that the situation could affect not only him but also his family and members of Ukraine’s military and political leadership.

Kneissl also recalled a story she previously shared on her Telegram channel: commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, whose family lives in Russia, reportedly transferred money to pay for his father’s treatment in a Russian hospital. According to her, this act struck her as a symbol of deep personal tragedy and a reminder of the fratricidal nature of the conflict.

She added that a potential change in leadership could result in various outcomes: some individuals may leave the country, while others may choose to stay and accept responsibility. However, the diplomat stressed that such predictions remain hypothetical.