British embassy opening in Kyiv seen leading to 'surge in confidence'

Other countries expected to follow UK lead, with US reopening potentially next month with a new ambassador

Melinda Simmons welcoming Boris Johnson to Ukraine in February. Photo: Melinda Simmons / Twitter

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The reopening of Britain's embassy in Kyiv next week will lead to a “surge of confidence” with other countries expected to follow suit, security experts in Ukraine have told The National.

A further boost is expected following the announcement that the US has appointed a new ambassador to Kyiv who will begin the process of reopening the American embassy.

This is likely to lead to several other western embassies opening, followed by a surge of Non-Governmental Organisations, reconstruction firms and charities to help rebuild the war-ravaged country.

The prime minister’s spokesman confirmed to The National that the UK’s ambassador Melinda Simmons will return to Kyiv next week.

A security company boss speaking on condition of anonymity to The National from Kyiv insisted that the capital has returned to relative normality.

“If the embassies do all the risk assessments correctly and put everything in place before them getting in then everything will be fine," the operations director said. "Their presence will give a real physical reassurance to Ukrainians and foreign companies to come in and it will really give a jolt-surge of confidence to the capital, which is a beautiful place.”

However, with the capital still vulnerable to missile strikes from Russia there are concerns that an embassy attack — either accidental or otherwise — could lead to escalation.

“The embassies are clearly going to have to take significant extra precautions, because if the Russians do hit a diplomat that will have significant escalatory effect on the war,” he said.

The British embassy in central Kyiv is expected to increase its security with extra blast walls and armed guards, as well as reinforcing the ambassador’s residence.

The operative, a former paratrooper, is also set to provide security for a fire, search and rescue team from Britain that will help secure bombed-out buildings.

Ms Simmons’ arrival will mark a return after two months when embassies closed in Kyiv in the days leading up to the Russian invasion on February 24, as most staff moved either east to the city of Lviv or into Poland.

Liz Truss, the UK's foreign secretary, said the “extraordinary fortitude and success” of the Ukrainian people in resisting Russian forces meant “we will shortly be reopening our British Embassy in Kyiv”.

“I want to pay tribute to the bravery and resilience of the embassy team and their work throughout this period,” she added.

Despite the embassy reopening the Foreign Office still advises against all travel to Ukraine, although Boris Johnson said he backed British ministers who chose to visit the embassy.

American diplomats are expected to make a more cautious return with day trips to Lviv and a longer term plan for Kyiv.

The newly announced American ambassador, Bridget Brink, a career diplomat currently leading the Slovakia embassy, will be among the first to return.

It is understood the US would require the main airport to reopen, giving it the ability to evacuate staff quickly if Russia attempted to seize Kyiv again.