The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on diplomats to leave Kiev

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a message on Saturday in which it appealed to foreigners, including members of diplomatic missions, to leave Ukraine, and especially Kiev. We also warned against traveling to our eastern neighbors.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow announced further "systematic and uninterrupted" strikes against "military targets" in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, which is intended to be a response to alleged attacks by Ukrainian forces on the civilian population and infrastructure of Russia.

The AFP agency recalled that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a similar appeal at the end of May. At that time, 50 countries, in a statement issued under the aegis of the UN, described it as a "threat". However, Western diplomatic missions remained in Kiev.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs writes in a statement on Saturday that not all diplomatic missions complied with the May warnings, and "some people consciously expose themselves to mortal danger." "A number of foreign embassies continue to operate in Kiev and foreign representatives continue to visit Ukraine," the statement read.

“Responsibility for any possible negative consequences rests entirely with those who choose to ignore this warning,” it emphasized.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday denied reports by the British daily "The Guardian" that Western embassies in Kiev were preparing to possibly move to Lviv or Poland in the event of a threat to their headquarters.

"If any diplomatic missions intend to move somewhere, they inform us about it in accordance with adopted procedures. (...) No such reports or notifications from foreign diplomatic corps have been received by Friday evening," Ukrainian diplomacy said in a comment for the media.

In recent weeks, the Russians have been regularly carrying out massive air attacks on Kiev, with drone strikes occurring almost every day. At the same time, Ukraine is struggling with a shortage of ammunition for air defense systems.

On Saturday morning, Russia attacked the North Bridge in Kiev. A day earlier, Russian drones hit the Southern Bridge, which runs one of the three lines of the Kiev metro.