Russia has said it plans to carry out further strikes on Kyiv, including what it described as “decision-making centres”, and has repeated its warning for foreign citizens and diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital.
According to an AFP report, Russia launched dozens of drones and missiles across Ukraine over the weekend. The attacks killed four people, injured dozens and caused widespread damage in Kyiv.
Moscow also said it used its Oreshnik hypersonic missile in the strikes. It claimed the weapon can travel at up to 10 times the speed of sound and may carry nuclear warheads.
The warning came days after Russia accused Kyiv of attacking a vocational school in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region. Moscow said 21 people were killed in that incident. President Vladimir Putin ordered retaliation.
Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement that its armed forces would begin “systematic strikes” on Ukrainian military-industrial sites in Kyiv.
It added that strikes would also target “decision-making centres and command posts”. It warned foreign citizens, including diplomats and international organisation staff, to leave Kyiv immediately.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov relayed the warning in a phone call to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday. Moscow said Lavrov urged the evacuation of US diplomats. The US side did not immediately comment.
Earlier this month, Russia issued a similar warning, threatening large-scale strikes on central Kyiv if Ukraine disrupted a military parade on Red Square.
Western diplomatic missions rejected both warnings. A French foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, “We’re used to Putin’s threats. It is out of the question to evacuate.”
The European Union’s ambassador in Kyiv wrote on Facebook, “We are not going anywhere.”
Ukraine dismissed Russia’s warnings as rhetoric. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said partners should not accept Russian “blackmail”.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The war has since become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
US-led peace talks have stalled in recent months amid rising global tensions, including conflict in the Middle East.
