With tensions between the United States and the Russian Federation at an all-time high, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine on Wednesday morning issued an order for its citizens to shelter in place, citing “specific information regarding the possibility of a significant air attack.” commanded.
The US embassy in western Kiev was closed on Wednesday morning, and a convoy of diplomatic vehicles was believed to have evacuated the building. A message posted by embassy officials said they had received “specific information regarding the possibility of a significant air attack” believed to be planned for Wednesday. The closure was out of “extreme caution,” they said, but embassy staff were still told to shelter in place and American citizens in Ukraine were told to prepare for evacuation. .
The embassy's advice to Americans in Ukraine states that they should “identify evacuation sites before an air alert is issued and evacuate immediately after an air alert is issued.”
Spain and Greece also closed their embassies this morning, and the UK government is also considering whether to close its embassies. of daily telegraph quote UK Government Minister Peter Kyle said the Ministry of Defence was considering its options. We will do whatever it takes to keep our people safe. It will be done on the basis of the evidence and information that is available to us at all times…We are evaluating all the evidence that the intelligence brings us every day, and the relationship between Kiev and the United States is very close. ”
Airstrikes on Ukrainian cities, including Kiev, are a regular feature of the war, which has now lasted 1,001 days, but Reuters said this particular warning and the US going so far as to evacuate its embassy were “unusual”. said. Embassies have experienced evacuations before, such as when the war began in 2022, when embassy staff were forced to flee as Russian troops attempted an ultimately unsuccessful lightning strike to seize the Ukrainian city. He was temporarily transferred to Poland.
There were airstrikes across Ukraine on Wednesday morning, but the embassy cited “significant airstrikes” as related to something else that had not yet occurred at the time of writing. According to Ukrainian state media, air defenses were activated around Kiev early Wednesday morning and residents were ordered by Kiev's junta to remain in evacuation centers until the situation was cleared.
Throughout the night from Tuesday to Wednesday morning, Russia launched 122 Iranian-designed Shahid bomb drones, air-dropped glide bombs, missiles, and other air strikes, and Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 56 drones and two missiles. It is alleged that he did.
The so-called “unprecedented” embassy closure comes as Ukraine aims what appears to be the first US-made ATACMS ballistic missile at Russia, in contrast to Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine, where similar weapons have been targeted in the past. This took place just 24 hours after it was launched. In recent days, the White House's policy shift toward a direct attack by Ukraine on Russia itself with U.S.-supplied weapons has prompted Kremlin officials to warn of serious escalation and refer to Putin's previous statements. has been subject to terrifying threats. Such an attack would be treated by Washington as an act of war.
