Shelling of peaceful cities makes people more stiff-necked, more determined – UK Ambassador

KYIV. Nov 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Each bombing of peaceful cities in history has made the population tougher and more resolute, British Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Melinda Simmons said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

"When you read not just about the Blitz, but about Dresden, Vietnam, Syria… every time there is evidence to show that the population gets more stiff-necked, gets more determined to just do what it needs to do. I can’t explain the psychology behind it. I can say, though, that it brings me back to maybe Russia should do some studying," she said.

"It appears to just make us all more determined to live with what we have. But not just in terms of existence, but in terms of staking our right to be here," the ambassador said.

"Actually, I think it goes more widely than that. I can see why Ukrainians compare it to UK experience, the Blitz. I was reading about this in the last week and I’m thinking about it myself. I’m not Ukrainian, I don’t get the option to say, you know: ‘How dare you come after my country?’ It’s not my country. I’m being hosted in this country. Still, when there is a hit on Kyiv I’m incredibly angry, I’m much angrier than scared. And of course, the first thought I think is, ‘well, I’m not leaving, keep going with my work," Simmons said.

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