Russia has threatened to unleash a fresh wave of “systematic strikes” on Kyiv just days after launching one of the biggest aerial attacks on the Ukrainian capital since the war began.
In a chilling statement, Russia’s foreign ministry warned that upcoming attacks would target “decision-making centres”, military command posts and drone production facilities in Kyiv.
Moscow also urged foreign nationals and diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital “as soon as possible” and advised people to stay away from administrative and military-related buildings.
Ukraine strongly condemned the warning, calling it “nothing short of shameless blackmail”.
Officials in Kyiv accused Russia of openly attempting to intimidate foreign diplomats and civilians through fear tactics and relentless missile strikes.
“Russia is effectively admitting its attacks are also aimed at intimidating the foreign diplomatic corps,” Ukraine said in a statement.
The latest threats come after large-scale Russian missile and drone attacks on Saturday night killed four people and injured around 100 others across Kyiv and nearby areas, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russia claimed the deadly barrage was retaliation for what it described as a deliberate Ukrainian strike on a student dormitory in Starobilsk, located in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine, where Moscow alleged 21 people were killed.
Ukraine denied targeting civilians, saying its military operation had instead struck an elite Russian drone unit in the area.
Since a brief ceasefire tied to Russia’s Victory Day celebrations ended earlier this month, Moscow has resumed waves of deadly missile and drone assaults on Kyiv.
One earlier strike reportedly killed 24 people, including three children, after a residential apartment block was hit.
Ukraine later responded with a major drone attack targeting the Moscow region, which Russian officials said killed three people.
Zelensky defended the strike as a justified response to Russia’s repeated attacks on civilians.
The most recent overnight assault on Kyiv saw Russia launch dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles alongside hundreds of drones.
Russia also reportedly fired a hypersonic, nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile toward Bila Tserkva, about 90 kilometres south of Kyiv.
Videos circulating online showed huge explosions lighting up the night sky while terrified residents reported continuous blasts across the city.
Several civilian landmarks and public facilities were damaged or destroyed, including the Chernobyl Museum, the National Art Museum of Ukraine, shopping centres, markets and residential buildings.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reportedly urging the evacuation of American diplomats from Kyiv.
Following the call, Rubio described the escalating attacks as another reminder of the devastating consequences of war.
“This is a terrible war and it needs to come to an end,” he said, adding that the United States remains prepared to help facilitate peace efforts.
Analysts believe Russia’s warning to foreigners may also be part of a psychological pressure campaign designed to increase panic inside Kyiv.
Despite years of constant bombardment, Ukraine has built a sophisticated layered air defence system capable of intercepting many incoming missiles and drones.
However, experts warn that Russia’s strategy of launching attacks in overwhelming numbers continues to place immense pressure on Ukraine’s air defence capabilities.
Kyiv also remains heavily dependent on Western military support and foreign-supplied missile defence systems to protect its cities from large-scale attacks.
