Russia again urges foreign diplomats to leave Kyiv

Russia on Saturday reiterated its demand that foreign diplomats leave Kyiv, saying it will continue carrying out large-scale strikes in the Ukrainian capital.

The Foreign Ministry, which issued similar warnings in May, said in a statement that “in response to the Ukrainian Armed Forces' terrorist acts against the civilian population and ​civilian infrastructure of our country, the Armed Forces of ​the Russian Federation are continuing to systematically carry ⁠out targeted strikes on military facilities in Kyiv and other ​Ukrainian cities.”

The ministry expressed concern that the warnings have not been taken into account, a number of foreign embassies continue to operate in Kyiv, and that foreign officials continue to visit Ukraine.

“The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue to carry out large-scale retaliatory strikes,” the statement said.

“The Russian Foreign Ministry once again urges foreign nationals, including personnel of diplomatic missions, to refrain from remaining in or travelling to Ukraine. Responsibility for any possible adverse consequences lies entirely with those who choose to disregard this warning.”

Moscow and Kyiv have ramped up strikes in recent months, targeting each other’s logistics centers, ports and energy infrastructure. They deny deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, maintaining that the strikes are directed at military targets or facilities linked to military activities.

Kyiv has seen an escalation in strikes in recent days, with bridges running across the ‌Dnieper River notably among infrastructure targeted, including the Pivnichnyi Bridge earlier Saturday.