Russia warns diplomats and foreigners to leave Kyiv, pledges “massive” strikes on Ukrainian cities

Russia has warned foreign diplomats and nationals to leave Kyiv and pledged to continue “massive” retaliatory strikes on the Ukrainian capital and other cities, hours after a Russian strike damaged a major bridge across the Dnipro river on Saturday morning.

FAKTA

• Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday it will continue systematic retaliatory strikes on Kyiv and other cities.
• Foreign nationals, including diplomatic staff, were urged to leave Ukraine; Moscow disclaims responsibility for consequences.
• A strike on Kyiv’s Northern Bridge wounded two people and damaged the road surface and trolleybus lines.
• Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko says the capital is in a “very dramatic situation” and should be on a war footing.
• Both sides deny targeting civilians.

Bridge strike hours before the warning

On Saturday morning, a Russian strike hit the Northern (Pivnichnyi) Bridge in Kyiv, wounding two people and damaging the road surface and overhead electrical lines for trolleybus services, restricting traffic, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Reporters saw traces of an explosion on a pedestrian walkway and technicians repairing power lines.

Hours later, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued its warning. “The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue to deliver massive retaliatory strikes,” it said, adding that “responsibility for any potential negative consequences rests entirely with those who ignore this warning.”

Kyiv on a war footing

Moscow has ramped up its pummelling of Kyiv, launching waves of drones at the city, targeting key infrastructure and putting the capital on a near-constant state of alert. On Friday, Klitschko said the city was in a “very dramatic situation” and should now be on a war footing as the enemy was “tearing Kyiv apart” with strikes on bridges and energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia has stockpiled hundreds of ballistic missiles ahead of an expected winter campaign against electricity and water infrastructure.

Accusations and denials

President Volodymyr Zelensky accused his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, of ripping up the rulebook of armed conflict by sanctioning massive attacks on civilian areas, an accusation the Kremlin has rejected.

The Russian ministry said the strikes were “in response to the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ terrorist acts against the civilian population and civilian infrastructure of our country”. Both sides deny targeting civilians.

Moscow issued a similar warning in May, but leaders of countries backing Ukraine have defied it by travelling to the capital in shows of support.

Read our earlier report: Russia strikes Kyiv’s Northern Bridge as bridge attacks enter third day.