Western diplomats should immediately leave the Ukrainian capital because they are in mortal danger, Moscow warned last month.
The warning from Moscow was blunt, stating that Western diplomats should immediately leave the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, The Guardian reported.
European envoys in Kyiv responded to the Kremlin’s threat with a loud raspberry, according to The Guardian. So did the ambassadors from Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, France, Poland, and Estonia. Even the Americans indicated they would not be budging.
Cognitive Warfare in Kyiv
Lund-Sørensen said the Russians were trying to spook Europeans in order to undermine support for Ukraine.
“It’s cognitive warfare. These attacks have been going on for a long time. They are trying to influence public opinion in my country. Of course we will continue here.”
said Thomas Lund-Sørensen, Denmark’s ambassador to Ukraine.
The ambassador admitted that his job had scary moments, shared by all in Kyiv. There is a difference between being in uncomfortable and life-threatening situations, he added.
Air Raids Near Embassies
The decision to remain in a city under fire is not without risk. Russia has dramatically stepped up its attacks since August, hurling missiles and hundreds of jet-powered drones at major urban centres such as Kharkiv and Odesa.
In 2025, two missiles landed in the car park next to the EU delegation building, perforating its ground floor with deadly metal cubes. This September, a drone exploded 500 metres away, ravaging the ninth floor. Katarína Mathernová, the EU’s ambassador in Kyiv, recalled the blast.
And so are we 🇩🇰🇺🇦 🇪🇺 https://t.co/bpjVNQr8fh
Katarína Mathernová, the EU’s ambassador in Kyiv, said she was in a meeting with seven colleagues and they ran to the corridor. She said she had never heard anything that loud in her life and that there were plumes of smoke, which was shocking.
“I've never heard anything that loud in my life. There were plumes of smoke. It was shocking,” said Katarína Mathernová, the EU's ambassador in Kyiv.
Infrastructure Strains and Daily Life
Power cuts last most of the day, and water supplies face severe disruptions. The bombing has reached the historic centre of Kyiv, where many embassies are located. In October 2022, the German embassy’s visa office was damaged in an attack that killed eight people, The Guardian reported.
Mathernová said Vladimir Putin’s strategic goal was to destroy the EU. “made in the hope that some diplomats from the global south might abandon Kyiv,” said Katarína Mathernová, the EU's ambassador in Kyiv, and described Russia's latest threat as intimidation. The capital is creaking under the strain.
“The level of attacks are much higher than last year, and the power cuts earlier. We’ve had no water in our building. The soft underbelly of a modern city is its sewage system.”
Mathernová said.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which nations have kept their ambassadors in Kyiv despite the threats?
Ambassadors from Denmark, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, France, Poland, and Estonia remain in the Ukrainian capital, alongside diplomatic representation from the United States.
How are European delegations modifying their offices for protection?
The EU delegation is reinforcing outer walls with sandbags, placing beanbags in corridors for air raids, and installing foldable beds and extra showers.
What previous embassy damage has occurred during the conflict?
In October 2022, an attack damaged the German embassy’s visa office and killed eight people, according to The Guardian.
How do visiting officials travel to Kyiv currently?
Because the capital’s airport has been shut since the 2022 invasion, visiting prime ministers and presidents must travel by train or car.
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