Russia Threatens 'Systematic Strikes' on Kyiv, Urges Evacuation

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued the warning following Ukraine’s deadliest drone strike in Starobilsk, which reportedly killed 18 people and injured 42 others, according to Al Jazeera.

“Russia’s Armed Forces are beginning to launch consistent and systemic strikes on Ukrainian defence industry enterprises in Kyiv, including specific facilities for designing, manufacturing and programming drones and preparing them for operation. The Kyiv regime deploys these drones with the help of NATO specialists who supply components, provide reconnaissance and target acquisition data,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry urged foreign nationals to leave Kyiv and advised residents to stay away from military and administrative infrastructure.

“As these facilities are scattered across Kyiv, we notify foreign citizens, including the personnel of diplomatic missions and international organisations, of the need to leave the city as soon as possible. We urge residents of the Ukrainian capital not to approach facilities of the military and administrative infrastructure of the Zelensky regime,” it added.

Kyiv has significantly expanded its drone warfare capabilities in recent months, reporting successful strikes on Russian targets, particularly energy infrastructure.

Moscow, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago and claims four eastern Ukrainian regions as its own, has described the attacks as “terrorism” and responded with large-scale missile and drone strikes, Al Jazeera reported.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also conveyed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that, in response to Kyiv’s attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Russian territory, the Russian Armed Forces would carry out “systematic and consistent strikes” on facilities in Kyiv used by the Ukrainian military, as well as on “relevant decision-making centres”, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of a “short supply” of Ukraine’s anti-ballistic defence capabilities and said Kyiv is working with European partners to secure sufficient quantities.

“We are working with all our partners on air defence for Ukraine — this is the first priority. Anti-ballistic capabilities are now in short supply globally because of the war with Iran, but we must look for solutions,” Zelenskyy said.

“We are trying to accelerate work in Europe on producing our own anti-ballistic capabilities on the continent in sufficient quantities. We will also continue engaging with the United States regarding its ability to support Ukraine,” he added.