Moscow warns of retaliatory strikes on Kyiv missions
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a formal warning on Wednesday, urging foreign diplomatic missions to evacuate their personnel from Kyiv. The move comes amid Moscow’s threats of a massive military response to any Ukrainian attempts to disrupt Victory Day celebrations on May 9.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova delivered the warning via a video message on Telegram. She called on diplomats to take seriously an earlier statement from the Russian Defense Ministry regarding potential strikes on the Ukrainian capital if the Red Square military parade is targeted.
Diplomatic missions urged to act
Zakharova stated that Russia "strongly urges" foreign governments to ensure the timely evacuation of diplomatic and representative staff from Kyiv. She characterized the potential Russian military strikes as an "inevitable" response to Ukrainian actions.
The spokesperson accused President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of making "aggressive and threatening statements" during a European Political Community meeting in Armenia. Zakharova criticized EU members for failing to rebuke the Ukrainian leader during the summit.
Tensions rise over Victory Day
In his remarks, President Zelenskyy noted that Russia has significantly scaled back its Victory Day events. He highlighted that the Moscow parade would lack heavy military hardware due to security concerns.
Zelenskyy remarked that this marks the first time in years that Russia has avoided displaying military equipment, suggesting a fear of drone activity over Red Square. "This speaks volumes," the Ukrainian leader added.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
