On day 1553 of the war, reactions are pouring in after Moscow requested foreign diplomats and citizens to immediately leave Kyiv, as it will launch new massive aerial attacks on the capital of Ukraine.
The EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, firmly responded to Russia’s threats, stating that Western missions will remain in the Ukrainian capital. She described Moscow’s statement as a „masterpiece of hypocrisy,” pointing out that threats against diplomats and international organizations are not a sign of power but of desperation.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Russia's warning as "shameless blackmail" aimed at intimidating the international community.
A strong reaction also came from Poland, emphasizing that any attack on the country's diplomatic missions will be considered deliberate and intentional.
Meanwhile, the United States has chosen a restrained language. American Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the warning does not directly target the US, noting that Russia instead issued a broader warning that diplomatic facilities in Kyiv remain in danger. However, the United States remains prepared to mediate in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, he specified.
Meanwhile, the General Staff in Kyiv announced that a Storm Shadow missile attack targeted Russian military infrastructure in the occupied Lugansk region.
Furthermore, Russia continued its nighttime aerial attacks on civilian areas. Ukrainian anti-aircraft units neutralized over 100 drones in the northern, southern, and eastern parts of the country. One man died and three others were injured in a Russian attack in the Odesa region. Injuries and damages were also reported in the Sumy and Poltava regions.
However, Ukraine remains without support for anti-ballistic systems, with President Volodymyr Zelensky stating that little progress has been made in negotiations with the US regarding the expansion of anti-missile defense system production.
Reactions to Russia's Threat of New Attacks in Kyiv
- EU Stays in Kyiv - EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, rejected Moscow's calls for foreign diplomats and citizens to leave Kyiv, stating that Western missions will remain in the Ukrainian capital despite Russia's increasing threats of new attacks. Mathernova referred to Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement urging foreigners to leave Kyiv as a "masterpiece of hypocrisy," sharply criticizing what she called Moscow's attempt to turn fear into a weapon in the midst of its ongoing war against Ukraine. "A regime that has spent years bombing residential buildings, museums, maternity wards, schools, and power plants is now suddenly speaking the language of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. The same regime that launches nighttime rocket and drone attacks on civilians is now warning others to stay away," she wrote on Facebook on Monday. Mathernova said that Russia's message aimed to spread panic but emphasized that it will not succeed. "The EU is not going anywhere. We stay in Kyiv. We stand with Ukraine," she added. "Threats against diplomats and international organizations are not a sign of power. They are a sign of desperation," Mathernova continued.
- Kyiv Denounces Moscow's Blackmail - The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Russian warning as "shameless blackmail" intended to intimidate the international community. The institution urged partners to respond by increasing pressure on Moscow and strengthening support for Ukraine, including through air defense, as reported by Kyiv Post.
- Poland's Harsh Response - The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that any attack on the country's diplomatic missions will be considered deliberate and intentional. "As Russia claims it is not waging war but a so-called 'special military operation,' which by definition should be limited to military targets, any attack on other infrastructures, including diplomatic missions, must be considered unfriendly. Therefore, any attack on Polish diplomatic missions will be considered deliberate and intentional," the institution's statement reads.
- US Maintains Caution - American Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed suggestions that Moscow is urging the US to evacuate embassy personnel from Kyiv, stating that Russia instead issued a broader warning that diplomatic facilities in the Ukrainian capital remain at risk. Rubio mentioned that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov conveyed a message from Putin to Trump, which he then addressed to the US President. "The danger in all these wars, as they continue and then continue, is that there is always the threat of escalation," Rubio said, according to Kyiv Post.
Ukraine's Strikes
- Storm Shadow Attack in Lugansk - The Ukrainian Air Force used Storm Shadow missiles on Monday to destroy a significant enemy command, control, and communications post in the occupied Lugansk region, as announced by the General Staff in Kyiv. Storm Shadow missiles, provided by the UK, have a range of action between 250 and 560 km, depending on the version. Equipped with advanced navigation systems, the missile is designed to fly close to the ground at high speeds, increasing its effectiveness in hitting critical targets, as reported by Kyiv Independent.
Russia's Attacks
- Casualties in Odesa and Sumy - A man died in a Russian attack in the Odesa region. Three people were injured in attacks on the town of Romny in the Sumy region. An infrastructure facility and several residential buildings were hit. Multiple fires broke out, and due to threats of repeated attacks, rescue teams temporarily suspended interventions. In the Poltava district, a house where an elderly woman lived was destroyed. Rescuers pulled the injured woman out from under the rubble.
- Anti-aircraft Operations Report - Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 122 drones overnight. Ukrainian defense forces shot down 111 drones in the northern, southern, and eastern parts of the country. Nine drones and missiles hit in 11 locations, and debris from downed drones fell in three locations, as reported by the morning Ukrainian Air Force.
Other Relevant Information
- Ukraine Lacks Support for Anti-Ballistic Systems - Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Monday that Ukraine has made little progress in negotiations with the US regarding the expansion of anti-missile defense system production and, as a result, is collaborating with Europe to address this issue, as reported by Reuters. "Unfortunately, there has been no progress with America for a long time regarding the expansion of anti-ballistic missile production," Zelensky said in his Monday evening video address. "We are trying to accelerate this process in Europe, producing our own anti-missile systems on the continent in sufficient quantities," he added. Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine continues discussions with the United States on how Washington can assist Ukraine, and the US leadership role is crucial.
- US Ready for Mediation - The United States remains prepared to mediate in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, announced American Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, following a massive Russian offensive against Kyiv, as reported by AFP. "The United States is prepared and willing to do everything we can to facilitate the end of this war, and we hope that an opportunity will arise at some point," Rubio stated. "We were the only ones both the Russians and Ukrainians were willing to talk to. So we engaged. Unfortunately, it did not yield results. That's the goal," he said. "If someone else wants to take on this issue, they are welcome to," Rubio added.