Is Mykolaiv at risk of occupation? Zelenskyy said the city remains among Russia’s targets

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia remain among Russia’s targets, although Russian President Vladimir Putin does not say so publicly and directly. The head of state said this in an interview on The Diary Of A CEO, commenting on Russian forces’ plans in eastern and southern Ukraine.

According to Zelenskyy, the Russian command aims to capture Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast. If Ukrainian forces are forced to leave these cities, the Russian army could try to advance further into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, particularly toward Pavlohrad and Dnipro.

The president emphasized that this is an important industrial and engineering region on which Ukraine’s economy depends. At the same time, a powerful defensive line has been established in eastern Ukraine to hold back the advance of Russian forces.

“If we give them these cities of ours, the risk is enormous. If he wants to advance further, he will be able to capture a large number of our cities. The risk is real. No one can guarantee anything,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The head of state also noted that Ukraine is ready to discuss security guarantees, but Russia is demanding that Ukrainian forces withdraw further. In the president’s view, this demand is unjust and offers no assurance that hostilities will not continue after concessions are made.

As an example, Zelenskyy cited Kherson, which is divided by the Dnipro River. Ukrainian troops and the city’s residents are on one bank, while Russian forces are on the other. From there, the occupiers continue to shell the city.

According to the president of Ukraine, Russia controls about 18–19% of Ukraine’s territory. He also drew attention to the fact that Russian citizens are shown maps that do not reflect the actual situation on the front line.

Separately, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russian president wants to capture Zaporizhzhia, but is currently unable to do so. The Ukrainian leader emphasized that Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv also remain Russian targets, despite Putin making no direct public statements to that effect.

“He (Putin, — ed.) wants to capture the city of Zaporizhzhia, but he cannot do it. It is one of his goals. Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv are also targets, although he does not say so directly,” Zelenskyy said.

The president of Ukraine also commented on U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls to seek a compromise to end the war. According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine is already agreeing to a serious compromise: a ceasefire and a halt to hostilities along the current front line.

“The biggest compromise we are already making is a ceasefire. Let’s simply stop this war,” the head of state said.

Zelenskyy added that he had repeatedly tried to explain Ukraine’s position to Donald Trump, emphasizing that maintaining the current front line is already a significant compromise in itself. At the same time, he said, a further withdrawal of Ukrainian forces does not guarantee that Russia will abandon further territorial conquests.

We previously reported:

• Palisa: Russia aims to capture Mykolaiv Oblast and Odesa; a plan for a buffer zone in Vinnytsia Oblast recorded for the first time
• Zelenskyy: Ukraine is ready to freeze the war along the current front line
• Mykolaiv on the Kremlin’s list of targets: what should residents of the south expect? — Major of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Prozapas
• Protecting Mykolaiv and other cities: Zelenskyy wants to buy more air defense systems from the United States
• Russians are striking peaceful cities, not the front line — Zelenskyy on the attack on Mykolaiv