Russia has threatened a fresh wave of "systematic strikes" against Kyiv, just days after it conducted one of its largest attacks on the Ukrainian capital since the war began. The new strikes will target "decision-making centres and command posts" alongside drone manufacturing facilities, according to Russia's foreign ministry, which also urged foreign nationals and diplomats to leave Kyiv "as soon as possible." Citizens were advised to steer clear of administrative and military buildings, presumably to make the strikes less awkward.
Ukraine dismissed the threats as "nothing short of shameless blackmail," calling on allies to increase pressure on Moscow. The Ukrainian foreign ministry noted that by warning foreign nationals, Russia is "effectively admitting that its shelling is aimed, among other things, at intimidating the foreign diplomatic corps." They added that Russian strikes on Kyiv "have not ceased for virtually a single week" since the war began, and the security threat "remains the same as in previous years or months."
Large-scale Russian strikes on Saturday night killed four and injured about 100 in Kyiv and other areas, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Moscow claimed the barrage was retaliation for a Ukrainian attack on a student dormitory in Starobilsk on Friday, which Russian officials said killed 21. Ukraine's military countered that it had struck an elite Russian drone unit in the area, not civilians.
Russia has launched several waves of deadly attacks since a brief ceasefire expired in May. Earlier strikes killed 24, including three children, in a block of flats. Days later, Russian officials said three died in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region, which Zelensky called "entirely justified." Saturday's assault employed dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles, hundreds of drones, and a hypersonic Oreshnik missile near Bila Tserkva, 90km south of Kyiv. Non-military targets like the Chernobyl Museum and the National Art Museum of Ukraine were damaged.
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to evacuate American diplomats from Kyiv, adding a diplomatic twist to the psychological pressure. Ukraine has built a robust air defence system over four and a half years of war, intercepting most drones and missiles, but often gets overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Zelensky warned in March of a looming deficit in foreign air defence systems due to the US and Israel's conflict with Iran.