Ambassador’s Corner
Ambassador of the EU to Ukraine, Katarína Mathernová, arrived in Kyiv in September 2023. The Ambassador represents the European Union in its diplomatic engagements and cooperation with Ukraine in these crucial times when the country is defending its European future and our joint values against the brutal full-scale aggression of Russia.
The Ambassador has worked with Ukraine since 2015, contributing to comprehensive reform process. A process that is actively ongoing despite the war and lays the foundations for Ukraine’s future accession into the EU.
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International Women's Day Address
Fearless. Selfless. Proud.
That is who they are, and that is who they will remain – today and everyday.
Ukrainian women, who have been resisting Russian full-scale invasion for more than three years. Protecting their families and their land with immense courage and pride.
Today belongs to each and every one of them. They deserve our gratitude for fighting not only for a lasting, just peace in Ukraine but also for security of the entire world.
Press
"Expectations for this winter are growing darker, but we are staying here in Kyiv", - Interview with EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová for European Pravda
"The attack on the EU embassy was a warning shot"
– Just over a month ago, Russia attacked the EU Delegation: two missiles exploded right next to this building where we are speaking now. Have you managed to repair everything?
– Apart from a few windows, yes.
The 28th of August is going to be one of the days I'll never forget for the rest of my life.
About 80 or 90 metres from the EU delegation and about 30 metres from the British Council there were two rockets that hit a small administrative building, and both the blast wave and fragments of the missiles and cluster ammunition damaged our building quite a bit.
Fortunately this attack, which I think was a warning shot, happened at around five in the morning. So thankfully there was nobody in the office from the staff, and our guards who work 24/7 were fortunately in a shelter.
On our premises nobody was injured, but if it had happened during the day, you can imagine what this would do to someone.
As an example, in one of the rooms we had a refrigerator that was pierced on both sides. A piece of shrapnel went in and out of a refrigerator.
These are some examples of how our offices looked. The entire ventilation system from the walls was destroyed and a lot of the furniture damaged.
– What will change in the work of the delegation?
– We are not changing anything. We are staying here in Kyiv. Europe stands with Ukraine, and that includes the full work of the delegation.
But these attacks are getting closer.
Ukraine now has attacks almost daily on its energy infrastructure, and most recently on its railways.
– We still remember 2022, when one after another the Western embassies left Kyiv, and then Ukraine altogether. Based on your conversations with your counterparts, can we be confident that this will not happen again, that Ukraine will not be left alone?
– The European Union is keeping the same staff level, and this is true for all the embassies as far as I know.
I have not heard of anybody reducing the diplomatic staff. And in...
