The Ukrainian president has unleashed his most direct call yet for Western allies to support regime change in Moscow, following a devastating Russian missile strike that killed 51 people in his hometown of Kryvyi Rih.
Standing amid the debris of a destroyed medical facility, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Russia’s leadership must be removed to bring this brutal war to an end. His comments mark a significant escalation in rhetoric from Kyiv, at a time when Western capitals have carefully avoided endorsing regime change as an explicit goal in their Ukraine policies.
“This evil state must be brought to justice,” Zelenskyy said, his voice tense with emotion as he surveyed damage from Tuesday’s strike. “It’s time for our allies to understand that only a complete dismantling of Putin’s system will bring stability back to Europe.”
The missile strike targeted a four-story building housing both a medical facility and administrative offices. Ukrainian officials report that among the dead were medical staff and patients, including a 14-year-old boy. According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia used a Kh-101 cruise missile, one of its most sophisticated weapons, in the attack.
This direct call for regime change represents a calculated risk for Zelenskyy. While many Western leaders have privately acknowledged that a truly secure Europe may be impossible with Putin in power, they have largely avoided making such statements publicly. U.S. President Joe Biden created controversy in March 2022 when he remarked that Putin “cannot remain in power,” comments the White House quickly walked back as not reflecting official policy.
Alexander Baunov, senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, told me by phone that Zelenskyy’s statement creates diplomatic complications. “Western leaders now face pressure to either endorse or reject this goal explicitly, when they’ve carefully maintained strategic ambiguity on the ultimate aim of their support.”
The strike on Kryvyi Rih came just days after Russia rejected a proposed peace summit in Switzerland scheduled for June. Moscow has dismissed the gathering as meaningless without its participation, while continuing to escalate attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Military analysts note the timing may not be coincidental. “Russia often increases civilian targeting when diplomatic initiatives gain momentum,” explained Dara Massicot, a senior fellow at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “It’s a deliberate strategy to demoralize the Ukrainian population and signal to Kyiv’s partners that Moscow won’t be pressured into negotiations.”
For Ukrainians living under constant threat of such strikes, the debate about regime change feels academic compared to their immediate security needs. Olena Syrota, a 43-year-old teacher in Kyiv, described the daily reality: “Every air raid siren reminds us that our lives depend on whether our defenders can intercept Russian missiles. We need better air defenses now, not diplomatic discussions about Moscow’s future.”
The attack highlights ongoing deficiencies in Ukraine’s air defense network despite significant Western military aid. While systems like Patriot have proven effective, Ukraine simply lacks enough coverage to protect all major population centers simultaneously.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged this gap during a press conference in Brussels. “We understand Ukraine’s urgent need for additional air defense capabilities,” he said, adding that several allies are exploring options to provide more systems in the coming months.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin responded predictably to Zelenskyy’s regime change comments. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the statements “further proof that the Kyiv regime has no interest in peace.” Russian state media amplified this message, portraying Zelenskyy’s words as evidence that Ukraine and the West seek the destruction of Russia itself.
For everyday Russians, heavily influenced by state media, such framing reinforces the Kremlin’s narrative that Russia faces an existential threat. “Putin has successfully convinced many Russians that this war is defensive,” noted Andrei Kolesnikov of the Carnegie Endowment. “Statements about regime change, however justified, play directly into that propaganda.”
The humanitarian toll continues to mount as the war approaches its 28-month mark. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has verified over 10,000 civilian deaths, while acknowledging the actual figure is likely substantially higher.
On the diplomatic front, the Swiss peace summit planned for June 15-16 will proceed without Russian participation. Over 80 countries have been invited, though China – whose participation Ukraine has sought to legitimize any peace process – has not yet confirmed attendance.
As Ukraine continues pressing for advanced weapons and permission to strike deeper into Russian territory, Zelenskyy’s regime change rhetoric adds another complicated dimension to Western support calculations. The Biden administration remains wary of actions that could trigger direct NATO-Russia confrontation, while European allies grow increasingly concerned about the war’s long-term economic impact.
For now, both Zelenskyy and Putin appear firmly committed to their respective positions. The Ukrainian leader insists that only complete Russian withdrawal from all occupied territories, including Crimea, can end the conflict. Putin demands Ukraine’s neutrality and recognition of Russia’s territorial claims.
With negotiations stalled and both sides preparing for continued fighting, Zelenskyy’s call for regime change reflects growing desperation in Kyiv – and recognition that as long as Putin remains in power, Ukraine’s very existence as a sovereign nation remains at risk.
