Tomorrow, the United States Embassy in Kyiv is set to resume operations after a temporary closure prompted by air attack threats, according to a statement from the State Department.
Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the department, refrained from specifying the nature of the threat that led to the embassy’s shutdown as a precautionary measure.
“Our top priority is the safety and security of our personnel, and we treat it with the utmost seriousness,” Mr. Miller stated.
This closure came on the heels of Russia’s threats to retaliate against Ukraine, which had, for the first time during the ongoing war, struck Russian territory using long-range missiles supplied by the United States.
Following the alert, an air raid siren blared through Kyiv in the early afternoon, raising alarms among residents. Ukraine’s military intelligence agency accused Russia of attempting to create fear by disseminating false messages claiming an imminent large-scale missile and drone assault.
“The aggressor, unable to dominate the Ukrainian spirit through force, resorts to intimidation tactics and psychological warfare,” they remarked. “We urge everyone to remain alert and steadfast.”
A source within the U.S. government mentioned that the embassy’s closure was indeed due to “ongoing air attack threats.”
In solidarity, both the Italian and Greek embassies announced their temporary closures, while the French embassy remained functional but cautioned its citizens to stay vigilant.
Moreover, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs indicated that staff at the Irish Embassy in Kyiv had adopted remote work protocols for today “as a precautionary measure.”
Just yesterday, Ukraine launched a strike on a Russian arms depot using U.S. ATACMS missiles, marking a significant moment at the one-thousand-day milestone of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
President Joe Biden’s administration had given Ukraine the green light to hit deep inside Russian territory using these long-range missiles.
In recent weeks, Russia has been signaling to the U.S. and its allies that any support for deep strikes into Russian territory would evoke serious retaliatory consequences.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are closing the embassy, and our personnel must shelter in place,” stated the Consular Affairs division on the embassy’s website.
“We advise U.S. citizens in Ukraine to be prepared to take immediate shelter if air alerts are issued.”
In response, Russia declined to comment.
Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russian foreign intelligence, stated in an interview released today that Russia would retaliate against any NATO country that facilitates Ukrainian missile strikes into Russian territory.
Earlier, Ukrainian air force officials urged citizens to seek shelter because of reported missile threats, emphasizing the importance of not ignoring these alerts.
That alert was closely followed by a warning from the GUR, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, about a psychological operation being carried out by Russia involving deceptive claims about an impending large-scale missile bombardment.
“Reports are circulating on social messaging platforms about a supposed massive missile and bomb strike on Ukrainian cities today,” GUR highlighted.
A couple of Ukrainian soldiers informed Reuters that they had received warnings indicating a potential launch of over 300 drones, along with attacks from warships and aircraft.
The exact method of the message distribution was unclear, but one soldier mentioned receiving information from a friend.
The conflict has reached a precarious stage, with nearly 20% of Ukrainian land under Russian control, North Korean troops reportedly deployed in Russia’s Kursk region, and uncertainty looming over future Western support, especially with Donald Trump returning to the White House.
This past Sunday, Russia executed a significant missile and drone assault on Ukraine’s national power infrastructure, which tragically resulted in seven fatalities and reignited concerns over the stability of Ukraine’s weakened energy systems.
According to GUR, a Russian military command post in Gubkin, located approximately 104 miles from the Ukrainian border, was “successfully struck,” although the statement provided no details on the attack’s execution or the weapon utilized.
Ukraine has also effectively utilized drones for strategic operations deep within Russian territory.
Later reports from Bloomberg indicated that Ukraine had deployed British Storm Shadow missiles to target locations inside Russia.
A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer refrained from commenting on these operational details, and no immediate responses have emerged from Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv urged American citizens to maintain emergency supplies of water, food, and medications in anticipation of a possible “temporary interruption of electricity and water supplies” due to ongoing Russian strikes.
“Continued Russian assaults aimed at civilian infrastructure could lead to severe power outages, heating loss, and disruptions in municipal services,” a statement declared.
Adding to the tensions, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently lowered the threshold for nuclear strikes in reaction to various conventional assaults on Russian territory.
In turn, the U.S. stated that it saw no justification to adjust its nuclear stance in light of Putin’s remarks.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian politician Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Ukraine would face dire consequences should U.S. support diminish.
Andriy Kovalenko, the chief of the Ukrainian Security Council’s Counter Disinformation Centre, commented on the U.S. embassy’s aerial threat warning, expressing concerns about a ramp-up in Russian missile capacity.
“Remember,” he urged, “the Russians have amassed missiles for future strikes against Ukraine for several months now; this includes Kh-101s, Kalibrs, and various ballistic options.”
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
