In a story that sounds more like a Cold War thriller than a modern diplomatic fallout, Ukraine’s former Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, says he had to flee his own country—“like a thief in the night.”
Over the past few years Ukraine has had a plethora of people leavingbits shores, it is estimated that over 6.9 million people have fled the country many as refugees, as they find themselves unable to keep up with the mental, financial and military pressure on their daily lives in Ukraine. But what is intriguing in the case of Kuleba is what exactly forced one of Ukraine’s top diplomats to sneak out of the country under cover of darkness?
Was it just a legal technicality?
Or is there something much deeper going on—perhaps something involving Zelensky himself?
On September 8th, 2025, Dmytro Kuleba—a name familiar to anyone who’s followed Ukraine’s diplomacy over the past few years—left Ukraine suddenly and secretly.
In his own words, he fled the country “like a thief in the night.”
But this wasn’t an exile under threat of arrest or a dramatic coup. Instead, it followed a new Ukrainian law that bans former high-ranking officials from leaving the country without special permission.
Yes—under martial law, Ukraine has tightened its control over the movement of state officials, including former diplomats.
“The truth is that Zelensky and his entourage don’t want us to go abroad and say things they believe might be contrary to the government’s line,” he claimed. “I’ve calculated that there are about twenty of us subject to this measure. I don’t think I suffer from persecution mania, but I know for sure that this decree is aimed at blocking me and a few others.”
Kuleba blamed the latest measure taken against the ex-diplomats on the purported “Soviet mentality” still persisting in “certain palace circles.”
For such officials, “if you go abroad as a free citizen, you automatically become an agent who plots against the state,” Kuleba claimed without naming anyone in particular. He added that he personally “in general” tends to defend Kiev’s actions during his overseas trips.
The timing of Kuleba’s departure has been very abrupt. The National Security and Defense Council had just updated these restrictions—Kuleba acted quickly, reportedly leaving for Krakow, Poland.
Kuleba privy to secret files?
Let’s be clear: as of now, there is no official warrant for Kuleba’s arrest.
There are no confirmed allegations of misconduct. And yet, he left as if he feared something far more. Why?
Some speculate that this wasn’t just about travel restrictions.
Was it political pressure from President Zelensky?
Was Kuleba trying to avoid becoming a scapegoat—or worse, being silenced?
And here’s where things start to get murky…
As soon as Kuleba’s escape made headlines, so did the undrrcurrent theories. Some sources have began asking:
Does Kuleba have secret documents—incriminating files about Zelensky or the Ukrainian administration?
Was he forced to flee before he could go public? Rumours have even started circulating online: about an alleged file of secret documents that reveal internal affairs, foreign negotiations, or even western pressures on Kyiv. Although so far Kuleba himself has made no claims about holding secret materials or planning to expose Zelensky.
So where did these rumours come from?
Let’s stick to what we do know:
Ukraine’s new law bans former officials from leaving the country without permission.
Kuleba left before those rules could be fully enforced. His statement—“like a thief in the night”—is likely a metaphor for the urgency and secrecy of his departure, what was his need to leave in such a hushed and hidden manner. Is there information he is privy to that will be out in time?
Kuleba’s escape raises huge red flags about the internal dynamics in Ukraine’s leadership.
Why is the government restricting former diplomats’ movements so tightly? Is this about national security during wartime—or something more political?
Could this signal growing friction between Zelensky and Ukraine’s former diplomatic elite?
Zelensky remains popular in the West, but domestically, the pressure against him is rising. Ukraine is at war, aid is tightening, and political unity is cracking.
So secret files or shocking leaks aside, Kuleba’s departure might be a symbol of deeper unrest—a silent protest against an administration growing more authoritarian under wartime rules
Did Dmytro Kuleba flee Ukraine with explosive documents in hand?
If so what he may have to reveal may truly be extraordinary for him to flee for his life. The way Kuleba has fled, and the statement he has made, have already fueled enough speculation raising serious questions about freedom, control, and accountability inside Ukraine’s wartime government.
