Russia says it will continue targeted strikes on Kyiv and urges foreign diplomats to leave

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that it will continue to conduct targeted strikes against military facilities in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. The ministry stated that these operations are a response to what it described as terrorist acts committed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces against Russian civilians and infrastructure.

In conjunction with this announcement, the Russian government issued a warning to foreign nationals and diplomatic staff currently in Ukraine. Officials urged these individuals to leave the country or avoid traveling there, explicitly stating that those who ignore the warning will be held responsible for any adverse consequences.

This declaration follows a recent escalation in military activity, including an air attack on Saturday that struck a bridge across the Dnipro River in Kyiv. The intensifying campaign against infrastructure has significantly disrupted daily life for the capital’s population of approximately 3 million people as the region prepares for the upcoming winter months.

President Vladimir Putin stated earlier this week that Ukraine is facing these consequences due to its own attacks on Russian territory. He indicated that Moscow intends to continue systematically striking targets within Ukraine in retaliation for those actions.

Beyond the strikes on urban infrastructure, both Russia and Ukraine have recently increased their military focus on the other side's grain vessels. This development marks a shift in the ongoing conflict, as both nations continue to target logistics and economic assets in addition to military and civilian infrastructure.