Russia warned of systematic and consistent strikes against Ukrainian military sites in Kyiv and relevant decision-making centers. Sergei Lavrov urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to advise American citizens and diplomatic staff to evacuate Kyiv. The warning followed a major barrage of drones and missiles that hit Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, including a hypersonic missile and the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile fired at a town south of Kyiv. Russia cited an attack on a school dormitory in Luhansk as justification, while Russian officials accused Ukraine of targeting civilians. Ukraine denied allegations of civilian hits and said it struck a Russian drone unit headquarters.
"Lavrov called Rubio on May 25 to advise him to pull American diplomatic staff and US citizens out of Kyiv. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov warned that Moscow was planning to launch "systematic and consistent strikes" against Ukrainian military sites in Kyiv and "relevant decision-making centers." He also advised Rubio that US citizens and diplomats should be evacuated from Kyiv."
"A day after Moscow pummeled the Kyiv region with hundreds of drones -- and a powerful new hypersonic missile -- Lavrov called Rubio. On May 24, Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities were hit with a major barrage of drones and missiles. It was one of the worst to hit the Ukrainian capital in recent memory. At least three people were killed and scores wounded."
"Russia also fired a new nuclear-capable missile called the Oreshnik at a town south of Kyiv, in what appeared to be a signal to warn Ukraine. It was the third time Russia has fired the Oreshnik at a Ukrainian target, and the first time it has targeted a site close to Kyiv. Ukrainian military officials have said its forces hit the headquarters of a Russian drone unit and it rejected the allegation that civilian facilities were hit."
"Russia has justified its increasing threats citing an attack on a school dormitory in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Luhansk last week. Local officials said more than 20 people were killed in the town of Starobilsk. Russian officials accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting a civilian location. In a speech last week, Putin gave an unusually belligerent statement, accusing Kyiv of "terrorism.""
#russia-ukraine-war #kyiv-attacks #diplomatic-evacuation #oreshnik-missile #drone-and-missile-barrage
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