EU Ambassador: Russia turns Kyiv into frontline city

She made the statement in a post on X , responding to today’s massive Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, Ukrinform reports.

“Kyiv has become a frontline city. Since 27 August we have nighttime and daytime attacks,” the diplomat wrote.

She noted that Russia had launched a massive combined attack on Ukraine overnight, beginning in the evening and continuing through most of the night in several waves. Russia launched dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles and hundreds of drones, more than half of them jet-powered.

The Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa regions were the primary targets. Residential buildings were damaged. More than ten people, including children, were injured in Kyiv alone. In the morning, a drone struck a high-rise residential building.

“Kyiv has now been under the terror of the new jet powered drones since end August. They are faster and much harder to intercept. The attacks last for hours. People no longer sleep through the night. The number of dead and injured in Kyiv and the region is close to 120 just since the beginning of August. And it keeps growing,” Mathernova stressed.

At the same time, she said, Russia is increasingly targeting civilian transport. In particular, on September 16, a passenger train in the Mykolaiv region was attacked, all 168 passengers and crew escaped were evacuated.

“I love Ukrainian trains. I love travelling on them. Today I still do, but with fear,” the EU Ambassador said.

She recalled that Russia’s Foreign Ministry had called Ukrainian railway infrastructure a “legitimate military target” and said that no one could guarantee the safety of Western politicians and diplomats visiting Ukraine.

“That is not a warning. It is an admission,” Mathernova stressed.

The diplomat emphasized: “Russia has turned Kyiv into a frontline. And civilians into targets.”

As reported by Ukrinform, the number of people injured in Russia’s September 17 attack on Kyiv has risen to 20.