Russia Warns It May Strike Kyiv and Orders Evacuation of Foreign Diplomats

Russia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday warned foreign diplomatic missions to evacuate staff from Kyiv ahead of a potential large-scale strike by Russia’s Armed Forces. The ministry issued the evacuation order two days after its Defense Ministry warned that Russia will strike decision-making centers in Kyiv if Ukraine disrupts the May 9 parade.

Maria Zakharova, speaking in a video posted on Telegram, called on diplomats to take seriously the Defense Ministry warning issued Monday about retaliation in response to any Ukrainian attack linked to the May 9 commemorations.

"The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly urges the authorities of your country to treat this statement with the utmost responsibility and ensure the timely evacuation from the city of Kyiv of the personnel of diplomatic and other representations in connection with the inevitability of a retaliatory strike on Kyiv by Russia’s Armed Forces," Zakharova said.

Zakharova charged that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made aggressive and threatening statements about disrupting the commemorations during Monday remarks at a European Political Community meeting in Armenia. Several EU countries were present at the meeting.

None of them reprimanded the ringleader of the Kyiv regime, she said. "It will be the first time in many, many years they cannot afford military equipment and they fear drones may buzz over Red Square," he said.

Russia's Foreign Ministry issued the evacuation warning on Wednesday. At the moment the warring countries have presented competing dates for ceasefire.

Putin wants a ceasefire to correspond with the major Russian holiday on May 8-9. Zelensky offered a ceasefire on May 5-6, which has already come and gone. ZeroHedge reported that both sides have meanwhile continued attacking the other's vital energy sites, and in some cases this has left significant casualties and destruction.

Last year similar back-and-forth threats and rhetoric surrounded the lead-up to Russia's V-day celebrations, but little in the way of direct threats or hostile drone activity over Moscow materialized at the time.