Russia urges foreigners and diplomats to leave Kyiv
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Russia says it will continue to carry out targeted retaliatory strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities and urged foreigners and diplomats to leave the capital.
In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that “in response to the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ terrorist acts against the civilian population and civilian infrastructure of our country, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are continuing to systematically carry out targeted strikes on military facilities in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities”.
The Kremlin had warned all foreigners against visiting or staying in Kyiv in May.
While some countries had warned their citizens against travelling to Ukraine, Russia noted “that not everyone has heeded these warnings and is knowingly exposing their lives to mortal danger”.
“The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again warns foreign nationals, including diplomatic mission staff, against staying in Ukraine or travelling to its territory.
“Responsibility for any adverse consequences lies entirely with those who ignore this warning,” the ministry said.
Foreigners and diplomats should at least avoid areas near military facilities and government buildings, Russia’s foreign ministry said.
Russian forces have recently escalated strikes on infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital, hitting a bridge across the Dnipro river in an air attack on Saturday.
The intensifying campaign has upended life for the capital’s three million residents ahead of the bitter northern hemisphere winter months.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said this week that Ukraine was paying the price for its own attacks on Russia and would continue to do so as Russian forces systematically strike different targets there.
Both Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks on the other side’s grain vessels in the Black Sea in recent months, while Russian oil refineries and other enterprises continue to come under Ukrainian shelling and Ukrainian drones kill civilians in Russian border regions.
Both sides deny targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure.
with DPA
Reuters