Russia threatens to strike Ukraine’s defense infrastructure, urges foreign nationals to leave Kyiv

Russia, in the midst of a war with Ukraine, threatened Tuesday to launch "consistent and systematic strikes" on Ukraine's defence infrastructure in Kyiv and advised foreign citizens to leave the city. Al Jazeera reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a warning statement following the deadliest drone strike in Ukraine in Starobilsk, which killed 18 people and wounded 42 others.

“The Russian Armed Forces are beginning regular and systematic attacks on Ukrainian defence industry enterprises in Kyiv, including specific facilities for designing, manufacturing and programming drones and preparing them for operation.

“The Kyiv regime is operating these drones with the help of NATO specialists who provide components, reconnaissance and target acquisition data,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The MFA called on foreigners to leave the city, and on citizens to avoid approaching the facilities of the military and administrative infrastructure.

“As these facilities are located in different parts of Kyiv, we inform foreign citizens, including the staff of diplomatic missions and international organizations, that it is necessary to leave the city as soon as possible. “We urge residents of the Ukrainian capital not to approach the facilities of the military and administrative infrastructure of the Zelensky regime,” they said.

Over the last few months Kyiv has greatly expanded its drone warfare capabilities, reporting major success in hitting Russian targets, especially energy infrastructure.

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

Additionally, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also officially conveyed to the US State Secretary Marco Rubio that, in response to the Kyiv's attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure on Russian territory, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are launching systematic and consistent strikes against facilities located in Kiev that are used for the needs of the Ukrainian military, as well as against the relevant decision-making centres, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pointed to “short supply of Kyiv’s anti-ballistic capabilities” and said Ukraine is working with European partners to have enough quantities.

“We are working with all our partners on air defence for Ukraine – this is the first priority. "Because of the war with Iran, around the world anti-ballistic capabilities are now missing but we have to look for solutions," he said.