The Russian foreign ministry issued a formal statement on Saturday, renewing its call for all foreign nationals and diplomats currently in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev to depart the city immediately. The ministry noted with concern that previous warnings to refrain from visiting Ukraine or remaining in the city had not been heeded by everyone. Officials warned that those who choose to stay are knowingly exposing themselves to mortal danger.
In the same statement, the Russian government explicitly warned that its armed forces intend to continue delivering massive retaliatory strikes. The ministry further declared that the responsibility for any potential negative consequences rests entirely with those who choose to ignore this warning.
This announcement follows a week of intensified military activity, during which Moscow and Kiev have exchanged frequent drone and missile barrages. These attacks have increasingly targeted key infrastructure. On Friday, Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that the city must now operate on a war footing, asserting that the enemy is tearing the capital apart through persistent strikes on bridges and energy infrastructure.
The ongoing escalation has drawn sharp criticism from Ukrainian leadership. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, of abandoning the established rules of armed conflict by authorizing massive attacks on civilian areas. The Kremlin has rejected these accusations.
