Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile
Dame Melinda Simmons

@melsimmonsfcdo

Former British Ambassador to Ukraine 🇬🇧🇺🇦, preparing for my next overseas posting

ID: 82709293

linkhttp://www.gov.uk/world/ukraine calendar_today15-10-2009 20:48:31

5,5K Tweet

79,79K Followers

1,1K Following

Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile Photo

The exercise book I grabbed to use for my language training. It’s not Ukrainian that I’m learning this time. But old habits die hard.

The exercise book I grabbed to use for my language training. It’s not Ukrainian that I’m learning this time. But old habits die hard.
Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile Photo

My local area, where a racist gathering was planned yesterday, looks calm and normal this morning. Cafes and shops opening as usual as people head to work. Nothing of any interest to see at all. But perhaps that is what unbowed looks like. It is def what community looks like.

Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile Photo

In The Eye of the storm is a beautifully curated exhibition of 🇺🇦 art from the early 1900s to 1940s. A great portrayal of the distinctive contribution of 🇺🇦 artists at that time. Really worth a visit to Royal Academy of Arts to see it.

In The Eye of the storm is a beautifully curated exhibition of 🇺🇦 art from the early 1900s to 1940s. A great portrayal of the distinctive contribution of 🇺🇦 artists at that time. Really worth a visit to Royal Academy of Arts to see it.
Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Thought of my 🇺🇦 friends during today’s bombardments from 🇷🇺. “Retaliation for Kursk”? Give me a break. 🇷🇺 has been bombing 🇺🇦 unprovoked for 2 and a half years.

Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile Photo

My social media “memories’ regularly include memorials of 🇺🇦 people who lost their lives in 🇺🇦 - bombed in their homes, while fleeing, or captured and killed. It’s one year this week since I left Kyiv. But those memorials will last a lot longer.

David Lammy (@davidlammy) 's Twitter Profile Photo

This is just the beginning. I will continue to use the full arsenal of tools at my disposal to bear down on the Kremlin, and to support @zelenskyyUA and the Ukrainian people in their fight. We will not stop in our shared endeavour to constrain Vladimir Putin.

Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Friends in #Kyiv 🇺🇦 tell me about sleep deprivation because of nightly 🇷🇺 drone attacks on the city. Every night in shelter, every night fearful. It would be torture for anyone who had to go through that. They’re going through it right now.

Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile Photo

When I learned Ukrainian you were lucky to find one textbook on a shelf. Now there are loads, reflecting the increased interest. So, far from erasing the 🇺🇦 language via invasion and repression, 🇷🇺 seems to be succeeding in making Ukrainian even more popular. Globally. Genius.

When I learned Ukrainian you were lucky to find one textbook on a shelf. Now there are loads, reflecting the increased interest. So, far from erasing the 🇺🇦 language via invasion and repression, 🇷🇺 seems to be succeeding in making Ukrainian even more popular. Globally. Genius.
Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Turned on TV and BBC Dragons' Den is on and Jana, an amazing 🇺🇦 refugee woman is pitching, in excellent English, distribution of fashion brands made in #Ukraine. Amazing 🇺🇦resilience and innovation on show. And some canny negotiation too 😊

Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile Photo

I can’t make this event sadly. But I have read the book and it is a deeply moving witness account of the 🇷🇺 invasion of 🇺🇦 Buy this book. It’s a beautiful tribute to a life that should not have been lost.

Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile Photo

The Hotel Bristol in Odesa damaged by a 🇷🇺 missile. I visited that hotel so many times on stays in Odesa 🇺🇦. I guess 🇷🇺 wanted to destroy it because they couldn’t have it for themselves.

The Hotel Bristol in Odesa damaged by a 🇷🇺 missile. I visited that hotel so many times on stays in Odesa 🇺🇦. I guess 🇷🇺 wanted to destroy it because they couldn’t have it for themselves.
Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Showing my support for a democratic country which holds free and fair elections. Pretty amazing how many commuters asked where I got the scarf 🇺🇦

Showing my support for a democratic country which holds free and fair elections. Pretty amazing how many commuters asked where I got the scarf 🇺🇦
Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile Photo

My 🇺🇦 investiture outfit is on display at Kensington Palace next to Vivienne Westwood’s. Her outfit was a rebellion against fashion norms. Mine was a rebellion against 🇷🇺aggression #ukraine #dresscodes

My 🇺🇦 investiture outfit is on display at Kensington Palace next to Vivienne Westwood’s. Her outfit was a rebellion against fashion norms. Mine was a rebellion against 🇷🇺aggression #ukraine #dresscodes
Dame Melinda Simmons (@melsimmonsfcdo) 's Twitter Profile Photo

To dla mnie wielki zaszczyt zostać mianowaną ambasadorem Wielkiej Brytanii w Polsce. Nie mogę się doczekać, żeby rozpocząć pracę. Jeszcze tylko jeden egzamin z języka do zdania! Anna Clunes gov.uk/government/new…