Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
It’s not the first time Russia has told diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital.
Russia recently renewed its harsh warnings, urging foreign diplomats and citizens to abandon Kyiv without delay.
Moscow warned that its military would keep targeting key energy facilities and major bridges across the city ahead of winter.
In a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russia asserted that Ukraine is paying for its own attacks on Russian border areas and oil refineries.
Western powers, however, show no immediate desire to flee.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made Washington’s firm position clear during recent remarks to reporters at Joint Base Andrews.
“Look, we have an embassy presence there, and we’ll make the determination about whether it’s safe for them to be there or not,” Rubio said.
Standing their ground
Rubio pointed out that Russian officials have repeated the exact same threats for months. Nothing in Washington’s safety assessment has changed.
“They’ve been warning diplomats to leave for months, and I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that Kyiv is under attack,” Rubio added.
Ukrainian officials also confirmed that no foreign government has requested an official exit route. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi emphasized that embassies must follow strict steps if they ever plan to move.
“If any diplomatic missions are planning to relocate, they inform us; that is the established procedure,” Tykhyi told reporters, The Kyiv Independent reported.
Preparing for the worst
The Guardian reported that senior European envoys have drawn up contingency plans to shift staff toward Lviv or eastern Poland. But diplomats stressed that those emergency moves would take effect only if Russian forces begin targeting foreign missions on purpose.
Direct danger is already a regular feature of life for international staff in the capital. Over the past two years, Russian air strikes have damaged buildings belonging to the European Union, the British Council, and embassies representing Albania and Azerbaijan.
Even as Russian drones continue falling across residential neighborhoods and damaging key river bridges, foreign diplomats intend to remain in place.
