EU Ambassador Describes Harsh Reality of Daily Life in Kyiv Amidst Ongoing Missile Strikes
EU Ambassador Katarína Mathernová highlights the increasing hardship for Kyiv residents as Russian missile strikes disrupt essential services and daily life.
By Lorenzo Evans ·
The European Union’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarína Mathernová, has described the growing challenges faced by residents in the capital as Russian attacks continue. In a recent post on social media, the diplomat highlighted the escalating difficulty of maintaining daily routines in Kyiv following the latest wave of missile strikes on the city.
Mathernová detailed the scale of the overnight assault, noting that Russian forces launched approximately 40 ballistic and cruise missiles alongside 172 drones at Ukraine. The capital and the surrounding Kyiv Oblast bore the brunt of the attack, with a total of 24 facilities struck during the operation.
The ambassador shared a personal perspective on the situation, contrasting her own living conditions with those of many colleagues. While the hotel where she is staying is equipped with powerful generators that ensure stability, many Ukrainian and foreign friends from the EU delegation are coping with significant hardships at home. Mathernová observed that these individuals are living in cold apartments, with some spending the night in unheated shelters to stay safe.
She emphasized the resilience of her colleagues, who continue to work on EU-funded projects and Ukraine’s accession process despite the physical toll of the war. Mathernová expressed her admiration for their strength, questioning where they find the energy to rise and attend work in the morning after enduring such difficult nights.
The latest strikes occurred overnight between November 6 and November 7, targeting the Solomianskyi district among other areas. Reports indicate that fires broke out in the neighborhood, causing damage to several residential buildings, a kindergarten, and a non-residential structure. Some of these buildings were partially destroyed in the impact.
In addition to the structural damage, six people were reported to have been injured in the attacks. Among the casualties was a 14-year-old, highlighting the continued risk to civilians in densely populated urban areas. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of civilian infrastructure during ongoing hostilities.
Mathernová reflected on the broader implications of the conflict, stating that the five-year full-scale war has demonstrated how quickly essential comforts can be lost. She noted that basic amenities such as running water, warm rooms, and uninterrupted sleep are often taken for granted in peacetime but are frequently disrupted during wartime.
The ambassador’s comments come as winter approaches, a period that typically brings additional strain on energy infrastructure. Her observations underscore the persistent pressure on Kyiv’s systems and the enduring commitment of both local and international staff to keep operations running despite the challenging conditions.
