Russia warns US diplomats to evacuate Kyiv
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- Russia's Foreign Ministry warned U.S. and other diplomatic missions in Kyiv to evacuate or face “systematic strikes” on military targets, including decision‑making centers.
- Marco Rubio said he received a personal warning from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and noted the U.S. remains ready to help if peace talks resume.
- European Union officials, including mission head Katarina Mathernova, condemned the warning as “hypocrisy” and affirmed they will not leave Kyiv.
- Kyiv suffered its heaviest bombardment since the war began, with the Oreshnik hypersonic missile causing extensive damage and civilian casualties.
- Luhansk drone attack that killed 21 people, including students, was cited by Russia as the trigger for the threatened systematic strikes.
- U.S. State Department said there were no changes to embassy operations in Kyiv despite the warning.
Why it matters: The warning raises the immediate safety risk for foreign diplomats in Kyiv, but the EU’s refusal to evacuate and the U.S. decision to keep its embassy open keep diplomatic channels intact, limiting Russia’s ability to force a political concession through intimidation.
