Russia tells U.S. to evacuate diplomats from Kyiv before strikes

Russia has warned the U.S. State Department to remove diplomatic staff and American citizens from Kyiv before planned strikes on the Ukrainian capital. The warning came after a Ukrainian drone attack on a college dormitory in Starobelsk, in Russian-controlled Luhansk Oblast, that killed and wounded dozens.

Russian officials described the attack as the last straw and said the military would begin systematic strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial sites in Kyiv.

The Russian government stated that strikes would target facilities used to design, manufacture, program, and prepare unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as decision-making centers and command posts. Officials advised residents to avoid military and administrative infrastructure in the city.

Russia directly informed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio of the planned strikes during a call on Monday, according to the Russian government. The call followed a public statement urging foreign citizens, diplomatic personnel, and international organizations to leave Kyiv.

No official White House response to the warning has been reported. A Ukrainian surface-to-air missile system intercepted a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile over Kyiv over the weekend.