Kyiv, Ukraine—Western governments are scaling back their diplomatic presence in Ukraine’s capital amid escalating tensions and warnings of a potential Russian attack. Spain, Italy, and Greece have followed the United States in closing their embassies in Kyiv after Washington received “specific information” about a possible strike. Embassy staff have been advised to be ready to seek refuge in secure locations, and the U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs announced the closure “out of an abundance of caution.”
While France and the United Kingdom have opted to keep their diplomatic missions open, they are urging their citizens to exercise heightened vigilance. The UK has stated that the situation is “under constant review,” and Germany has maintained its embassy operations in a limited capacity, ready to take “appropriate measures if the situation changes.”
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has accused Russia of launching a “massive information-psychological attack” against the country by distributing false messages about a potential missile strike. The atmosphere in Kyiv remains tense as residents and officials brace for possible developments.
The heightened alert comes just hours after Ukraine reportedly fired several U.S.-supplied longer-range missiles into Russian territory for the first time, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. Ukrainian authorities announced that a Russian military command post was “successfully struck” in Russia’s Belgorod region, approximately 168 kilometers from the border.
In a controversial move, outgoing U.S. President Biden granted Ukraine permission on Sunday to use these weapons to strike targets inside Russia. The decision was allegedly in response to Russia’s deployment of thousands of North Korean troops on its eastern flank. Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, has warned that actions by NATO allies “will not go unpunished,” signaling a potential further escalation in the ongoing conflict.
The international community watches with concern as these developments unfold, weighing the implications for regional stability and global security. The closing of embassies by several Western nations underscores the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.
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Western governments close embassies in Kyiv after U.S. attack warning
cgtn.com
