U.S. and some European nations dismiss Russian warning for foreign nationals to evacuate Ukraine’s capital ahead of increased strikes.
Moscow threatened on Monday to “systematically strike at Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises in Kyiv” following an alleged Ukrainian drone attack that Russia claims hit a student dormitory in the occupied Luhansk region, killing at least 21 people and wounding 42.
Ukraine’s military called Russia’s characterization of the attack “manipulation,” stating a drone command center was hit.
Russia vowed to launch “a systematic series of strikes against Ukrainian military-industrial complex facilities in Kyiv” if the threat is not heeded, warning foreign citizens to leave the city as soon as possible and residents to avoid approaching military infrastructure.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned U.S. citizens to evacuate Kyiv directly to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a phone call on Monday. A State Department spokesman confirmed the discussion was about “views on the Russia-Ukraine war, bilateral relations, and the situation in Iran.”
A State Department spokesperson told CBS News that there is no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans but added that the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv is making no changes to its security posture.
Germany, Poland, and the European Union also dismissed Moscow’s warning.
“Calling on our embassy staff to leave Kyiv is doubling down on threats, terror & escalation,” Germany’s foreign office said, adding it had summoned the Russian ambassador in Berlin and made clear that it would not be intimidated by threats and will continue to support Ukraine.
Poland’s foreign affairs ministry said it continues to regard all attacks on Ukraine as acts of unjustified aggression resulting in enormous human losses and infrastructural damage. Any strike on Poland’s diplomatic missions will therefore be considered deliberate and intentional.
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova said Russia again urged diplomats and foreigners to leave Kyiv but stated that “Russia wants fear, panic, isolation of Ukraine. It will not work.”
Russia had issued similar threats in recent months warning diplomats to leave Kyiv but Monday’s was the most direct after a number of significant aerial attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks.
On May 14 and 15, Russia launched more than 1,500 drones and over 50 missiles. On May 23, it deployed its Oreshnik hypersonic missile killing at least two people and wounding 83 in Kyiv and the surrounding area.
Analysts say the escalation by Moscow comes amid signs that Ukraine is regaining momentum on the battlefield. In a May 25 report, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War think tank said “the character of the war is shifting in favor of Ukrainian forces, at least for now.”
Since late 2023, battlefield progress has been slow with neither side able to make major advances along a front line that stretches over 700 miles across eastern Ukraine. Russia had claimed regular small advances since then. The ISW report argues that Ukraine is starting to break the stalemate and may be poised to turn the tide.
“Ukraine is actively challenging the positional character of the war that has dominated the battlefield since 2023,” the group said. “Russian battlefield gains are approaching net zero, while Ukrainian forces are setting conditions potentially to break out of positional warfare by reintroducing limited elements of mechanized maneuver at the tactical level.”
While analysts see signs of progress on the battlefield, Russia continues to exploit Ukraine’s shortages in air defense munitions by stepping up its aerial bombardment.
“We are working with all our partners on air defense for Ukraine — this is the first priority,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a social media post after Russia’s May 25 attack. “Anti-ballistic capabilities are now in short supply globally because of the war with Iran but we must look for solutions.”