Russia’s foreign minister advised the U.S. secretary of state, Marco Rubio, that the U.S. should withdraw its personnel from Kyiv ahead of a Russian aerial assault on the Ukrainian capital.Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, spoke with Rubio by phone on Monday and informed him that Russian forces would soon commence “systematic and sustained strikes against facilities located in Kyiv,” in response to Ukrainian strikes in Russian territory.“Sergey Lavrov drew attention to a Russian foreign ministry statement from May 25, which recommended that the United States, along with other states with missions in Kyiv, ensure the evacuation of their diplomatic personnel and other citizens from the Ukrainian capital,” the Russian ministry said in a statement.
It said Russia would target “decision-making centers and command posts” in another statement and called for foreign citizens and diplomats to leave the city.
Russian forces launched a significant barrage of missiles and drones at Kyiv over the weekend as well. The barrage included an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, which is a nuclear-capable missile they’ve fired only twice before during the war. The Ukrainian Air Force said Russian forces launched 90 missiles, including 36 ballistic missiles, and 600 drones at Ukraine overnight Saturday into Sunday.
