Russia launched more than 100 drones and two ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force reported on Tuesday. This comes as Ukraine's foreign ministry stated that Moscow's recent threats to intensify aerial attacks on Kyiv are nothing new.
Russia's Warning and Diplomatic Tensions
On Monday, Russia urged foreign citizens, including diplomatic personnel, to leave Kyiv as quickly as possible and advised residents to avoid military and government facilities. Moscow claimed that 'systematic strikes' on the capital were being prepared. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio by phone that the US should evacuate its diplomatic staff from Kyiv, according to a Russian foreign ministry statement. Rubio did not indicate whether the State Department would comply but expressed concern during a trip to India that the 'terrible' war in Ukraine could escalate further.
The Trump administration has attempted for over a year to end the conflict that began with Russia's February 2022 invasion. However, these efforts have not yielded significant breakthroughs and are currently stalled as Washington focuses on the Iran war.
No Diplomatic Departures from Kyiv
No announcements of diplomatic departures from Kyiv have been made. The European Union, French, and Polish delegations publicly stated they would not leave. Ukraine's foreign ministry noted late Monday that the level of security threats from Russia to Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities 'remains the same as in previous years and months.' Russia has continuously launched missile and drone attacks on the capital for over four years, the ministry added, and Ukraine is prepared to assist diplomatic missions seeking additional security measures.
Recent Attacks and Responses
Russia claimed its biggest missile attack of the year last weekend was retaliation for a deadly Ukrainian drone strike on what Moscow described as a college dormitory in Starobilsk, a city in Ukraine's Russia-occupied Luhansk region. However, the Ukrainian General Staff stated that its strike in Starobilsk targeted the local headquarters of the Russian military's special drone unit.
Ukraine's Air Defense Shortages
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that sophisticated American-made air defense systems needed to stop Russian ballistic missiles are in short supply due to the Iran war. 'Unfortunately, there has been no progress for a long time with America on expanding the production of anti-ballistic capabilities,' Zelensky said on social media late Monday. He added that Kyiv is working with Europe to improve its own anti-ballistic capabilities in sufficient quantities.
Zelensky also highlighted that Ukrainian battlefield gains in recent months have enabled the country to 'stabilize' the 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) front line in eastern and southern Ukraine, suggesting that Kyiv's forces are holding their own against Russia's larger army. According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia's spring offensive is floundering as Ukraine's midrange drone strikes disrupt its rear supply lines. The Washington-based think tank said late Monday that Moscow's warning of major strikes aims to distract public attention from its 'poor battlefield performance' and economic strain caused by war costs and international sanctions.
