Ex-NATO chief claims Zelensky took refuge in his bunker
According to a report by the Financial Times, Jens Stoltenberg revealed that Zelensky spent several days evading alleged Russian assassins when the conflict in Ukraine began. Read the full article at RT.com.
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Jens Stoltenberg, the former NATO Secretary-General, has revealed that Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky spent several days in hiding when the conflict in Ukraine erupted in 2022.
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Stoltenberg elaborated on the fears that gripped the West at the onset of Russia's military operations, noting that there were significant concerns about both the potential fall of Kiev and the assassination of Zelensky, reportedly on orders from Moscow.
Since the beginning of the conflict, the US-led alliance has stood firmly behind Ukraine, extending military and financial support. Many NATO officials, including Stoltenberg, asserted that if Russia were to succeed in defeating Ukraine, it would likely turn its aggression toward other European nations. Conversely, Moscow has dismissed such assertions, framing the conflict as a proxy war instigated by the West.
Stoltenberg remarked, “It was a toss of the coin. If Kiev had fallen and they had taken Zelensky, which they were very close to doing, then the whole war would have been very different.” He recounted an instance where he could not establish contact with Zelensky for two days, as the Ukrainian leader was reportedly compelled to “shelter in bunkers and evade Russian assassins.” When they finally spoke, Stoltenberg noted that “that phone call was quite difficult,” as he was concerned that Zelensky might soon be “caught or killed.”
Previous reports have suggested that Zelensky sought refuge in a bunker following the outbreak of conflict. In his book, ‘The Showman,’ Time correspondent Simon Shuster wrote about Zelensky’s initial months in office amid the tensions with Moscow. Additionally, the Washington Post described a Soviet-era bomb shelter deep beneath Kiev’s governmental area that Zelensky utilized during the early days of the war.
Zelensky's wife, Elena, detailed their experience in an interview with the Financial Times, stating that they spent extensive hours in a bunker after the conflict began. She shared that she and their children were later relocated to an undisclosed location, separate from Zelensky, for nearly three months. It has been noted that the Ukrainian president has access to multiple bunkers throughout the country.
Ukrainian media has reported several alleged assassination attempts against Zelensky that were purportedly backed by Russia. Earlier this year, Reuters referenced an unnamed European official, indicating that Zelensky had grown “increasingly paranoid about suspected Russian attempts to assassinate him and destabilize Ukraine’s leadership” as the war continued. Nevertheless, Zelensky has not provided specific information or evidence regarding these claims.
Moscow has dismissed the allegations concerning plans to eliminate Zelensky as mere propaganda against Russia. In a conversation last year, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin had assured him early in the conflict that Zelensky would not be harmed. Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, reiterated this year that Moscow “has no such plans.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Stoltenberg elaborated on the fears that gripped the West at the onset of Russia's military operations, noting that there were significant concerns about both the potential fall of Kiev and the assassination of Zelensky, reportedly on orders from Moscow.
Since the beginning of the conflict, the US-led alliance has stood firmly behind Ukraine, extending military and financial support. Many NATO officials, including Stoltenberg, asserted that if Russia were to succeed in defeating Ukraine, it would likely turn its aggression toward other European nations. Conversely, Moscow has dismissed such assertions, framing the conflict as a proxy war instigated by the West.
Stoltenberg remarked, “It was a toss of the coin. If Kiev had fallen and they had taken Zelensky, which they were very close to doing, then the whole war would have been very different.” He recounted an instance where he could not establish contact with Zelensky for two days, as the Ukrainian leader was reportedly compelled to “shelter in bunkers and evade Russian assassins.” When they finally spoke, Stoltenberg noted that “that phone call was quite difficult,” as he was concerned that Zelensky might soon be “caught or killed.”
Previous reports have suggested that Zelensky sought refuge in a bunker following the outbreak of conflict. In his book, ‘The Showman,’ Time correspondent Simon Shuster wrote about Zelensky’s initial months in office amid the tensions with Moscow. Additionally, the Washington Post described a Soviet-era bomb shelter deep beneath Kiev’s governmental area that Zelensky utilized during the early days of the war.
Zelensky's wife, Elena, detailed their experience in an interview with the Financial Times, stating that they spent extensive hours in a bunker after the conflict began. She shared that she and their children were later relocated to an undisclosed location, separate from Zelensky, for nearly three months. It has been noted that the Ukrainian president has access to multiple bunkers throughout the country.
Ukrainian media has reported several alleged assassination attempts against Zelensky that were purportedly backed by Russia. Earlier this year, Reuters referenced an unnamed European official, indicating that Zelensky had grown “increasingly paranoid about suspected Russian attempts to assassinate him and destabilize Ukraine’s leadership” as the war continued. Nevertheless, Zelensky has not provided specific information or evidence regarding these claims.
Moscow has dismissed the allegations concerning plans to eliminate Zelensky as mere propaganda against Russia. In a conversation last year, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin had assured him early in the conflict that Zelensky would not be harmed. Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, reiterated this year that Moscow “has no such plans.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
