Russia urges diplomats and foreigners to leave Kyiv amid strike warning
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has renewed its call for diplomats and foreign nationals to leave Kyiv, warning of further “massive” strikes. The statement follows intensified Russian missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital, which Kyiv says have hit bridges and energy infrastructure. Ukraine has accused Moscow of targeting civilian areas.
Russia has issued a renewed warning to diplomats and foreign nationals in Kyiv, urging them to leave the Ukrainian capital and refrain from visiting Ukraine. The warning was contained in a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday. The ministry said it had previously urged foreign nationals and diplomats to leave Kyiv.
It expressed concern that some people had not followed those calls and were knowingly exposing themselves to danger. “The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue to deliver massive retaliatory strikes,” the ministry said. It added that responsibility for any potential negative consequences would rest with those who ignored the warning.
The statement came as Russian forces continued missile and drone attacks across Ukraine. The source material says Moscow has intensified strikes on Kyiv in recent weeks, including attacks targeting key infrastructure. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Friday that the city should be placed on a war footing.
He said strikes had affected bridges and energy infrastructure and described the attacks as tearing the city apart. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of abandoning the rules of armed conflict by authorising large-scale attacks on civilian areas. The Kremlin has rejected that accusation.
The Russian statement described the threatened strikes as retaliatory, but it did not specify a date, target or scale for any future operation. It also did not identify particular foreign missions or nationals who should leave. The warning adds to the pressure on foreign governments and international personnel operating in Kyiv as the conflict continues.
The supplied material does not report casualties or damage from the latest attacks, nor does it indicate whether diplomatic missions have announced departures.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.