We hid in the bathroom, Irish premier told as he meets people in bomb-hit Kyiv

Micheál Martin said ‘people should not have to suffer like this’.

Irish premier Micheál Martin has heard stories from Kyiv locals whose homes were damaged during Russian strikes.

Mr Martin heard from people in Lukianivska, a residential area with a tram route travelling through it that has been repeatedly hit by drone and missile strikes.

Two serious attacks took place near the metro station in May – the biggest attack at that point – and the most recent one on July 19, when 40 missiles were fired in approximately 40 minutes.

Marcel Grogan, Ukraine deputy representative at United Nations refugee agency the UNHCR, said that in the first six months of 2026, Russia fired 520 ballistic missiles – double the number of the same period last year.

In June, 300 civilians were killed by those strikes and 3,000 were injured – the highest number since April 2022.

“I think there’s a sense that the front line is quite static, but in terms of civilian casualties and attacks on civilians, it’s actually increasing. So your support is all the more appreciated at this time,” he said.

Liudmyla Vladyna said the night her apartment was hit was “one of the worst nights of my life”.

She said: “At 2am, two loud explosions, windows were blown out, balconies fall away, we hid in the bathroom.

“We survived, the children were not with us thankfully. In the morning it was horrible, my blood pressure skyrocketed, my heart was pounding like crazy.”

Oleh Kutz said he was “in despair” when he went to see how his home was affected.

“I didn’t know what to do,” he said as he praised the work of the UNHCR.

Mr Martin said it was reassuring to hear about the help of international organisations.

“Ireland has had a longstanding relationship with UNHCR, and we will continue to support UNHCR. We will also continue to support organisations in Ukraine through our bilateral humanitarian supports and funding,” he said.

“We remain horrified at the appalling attacks on civilians in Ukraine and in Kyiv. It’s very difficult for human beings to comprehend why a country or why a leader would authorise the bombing of civilian infrastructure and the killing of civilians when they’re asleep at night in their homes and in their apartments.

“It is shocking and it’s important that I come and witness the experiences that you have had and many, many others that have been articulated to me by the organisations.

“We appeal to President Putin, we say to all concerned, stop the war, and let’s have a ceasefire and let’s have it now.

“People should not have to suffer like this.”

He shook hands with locals and workers, and offered to buy a Guinness for the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, Andrii Tkachov.