British Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons confirmed on Monday that the British authorities are not considering evacuating diplomatic staff from the Ukrainian capital Kiev for the time being, despite the resumption of Russian attacks on the capital.
«It’s fair to say that the circumstances are different from the circumstances in which we first left in February. And it’s not just because we think the threat is less serious, it’s still serious. We now have a better idea of both Ukraine’s potential and Russia’s potential,» Simmons remarked.
At this point, the British ambassador in Kiev insisted before the microphones of the Interfax-Ukraine agency that the legation is convinced to maintain its presence in the capital and to continue advancing in its work, because, in addition, fleeing the city would give a pessimistic message to the citizens.
«I once went to a store to shop, and when they gave me my change they asked me, ‘So you’re not leaving, are you?» recalled Simmons, who insisted that for many Ukrainians it is «important» to be given this kind of confidence.
The Ukrainian capital has been the target of new Russian attacks for weeks now, mainly targeting energy facilities. According to Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, Russia has damaged around 40 percent of the country’s energy infrastructure.
In this context, the mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, appealed on Sunday to the population of the capital to stockpile food and other basic necessities while sources in his administration have even confirmed that there are plans for a possible total evacuation of the city if power cuts persist during the winter.
