20-11-2024 (KYIV) The United States Embassy in Kyiv suspended operations on Wednesday following intelligence indicating an imminent “significant air attack” on Ukraine, issuing urgent safety advisories to American citizens in the country.
This exceptional security measure comes in the wake of Ukraine’s deployment of US-supplied ATACMS missiles against Russian territory, an action permitted by the outgoing Biden administration as the conflict marks its 1,000th day.
“The embassy will cease operations temporarily, with staff directed to seek immediate shelter,” announced the US Department of State Consular Affairs. The embassy strongly advised American citizens to maintain readiness for immediate shelter response during air raid alerts.
The warning follows Sunday’s massive Russian assault, which saw 120 missiles and 90 drones target Ukraine’s power infrastructure, resulting in seven casualties and raising fresh concerns about the vulnerability of the country’s energy network.
Embassy officials urged US citizens to maintain emergency supplies, including water, food, and essential medications, citing the possibility of temporary utility disruptions from Russian strikes. “Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure may lead to widespread service interruptions affecting power, heating, and municipal services,” the advisory stated.
Ukrainian Security Council official Andriy Kovalenko confirmed the likelihood of further Russian airstrikes, noting Moscow’s months-long stockpiling of various missile types, including Kh-101, Kalibr, and ballistic missiles.
The situation has escalated following Moscow’s repeated warnings about Western involvement, particularly regarding the use of NATO-member supplied missiles for deep strikes into Russian territory. President Vladimir Putin recently modified Russia’s nuclear deployment criteria, broadening the conditions under which nuclear weapons might be used in response to conventional attacks.
