US closes embassy in Kiev, warns of ‘air attack’ risk
Pictured is the view of the US Embassy in Kiev on May 18, 2022.
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The US closed its embassy in Kiev on Wednesday, warning that it had “received specific information of a possible significant aerial attack” amid rising tensions with Russia.
US Embassy said in a statement that they were closing the building “out of an abundance of caution” and instructing embassy staff to shelter in place.
“The US Embassy advises US citizens to prepare to take shelter immediately in case the above air alert is announced,” it added.
Aerial warnings over Kyiv are a regular occurrence as the Ukrainian capital is regularly subjected to drone and missile attacks from Russia. But the latest warning comes amid rising tensions between Moscow and Washington, after reports that the White House on Sunday authorized Ukraine to use US-made long-range missiles to attack targets. spent on Russian territory.
On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said it intercepted five US-made ATACMS missiles and destroyed another missile that was used by Ukraine to attack the Bryansk border area. Ukraine has not officially commented on carrying out an attack with US-made long-range missiles.
The Pentagon also declined to comment when asked about this development.
The attack sparked a furious reaction from Moscow, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calling the action a Western “escalation”.
The US-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) was fired during a joint training exercise between the United States and South Korea, on October 5, 2022 at an undisclosed location.
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The Kremlin has repeatedly warned the West not to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons against targets on Russian soil. On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin adopted amendments to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, changing the limits on which Moscow can use nuclear weapons.
The updated document now states that any aggressive action against Russia by a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear power would be considered a joint attack.
It also states that the Kremlin could use nuclear weapons in the event of a serious threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity – and that of its ally, Belarus – and launch missiles. Ballistic fire against Russia would be considered one of the possible conditions. a nuclear reaction.
