The Russian Foreign Ministry called for the evacuation of diplomats from Kyiv on 9 May and warned of a possible strike
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation has called on states with diplomatic missions in Kyiv to evacuate their staff from the Ukrainian capital on 9 May. A similar call applies to the offices of international organisations.
The statement was made by Maria Zakharova, the official spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry explained this by citing the possibility of a “retaliatory strike” on Kyiv by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, specifically targeting decision-making centres.
“The Russian Foreign Ministry strongly urges the timely evacuation from the city of Kyiv of staff from diplomatic and other missions, as well as citizens, in view of the inevitability of the Russian Armed Forces delivering a retaliatory strike on Kyiv, including on decision-making centres,” Zakharova stated, calling for this to be taken seriously.
She described a possible Ukrainian attack on Moscow on 9 May as “the realisation of criminal terrorist plans”. It is noted that the relevant note and call for evacuation were sent out on 4 May.
On the same day, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced a unilateral ceasefire for 8 and 9 May and warned of a possible “massive missile strike on the centre of Kyiv” should this ceasefire be violated. The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasised that this warning is to be regarded as a proportionate measure.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that whether a Victory Day parade would take place in Moscow depended on the Ukrainian army. During the European Political Community summit in Yerevan, he also noted that Ukrainian drones could “fly over the parade” in Moscow instead of Russian military equipment.
Prior to the publication of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement, the President of Ukraine announced that Ukraine was preparing a “just response” to the Russian attacks that took place on 6 May despite the ceasefire declared by Kyiv in response to an initiative by the Russian Ministry of Defence.
