Russia warns foreign nationals to leave Kyiv after large attack
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Russia warns foreign nationals to leave Kyiv after large attack
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by Max Rego - 05/25/26 3:56 PM ET
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by Max Rego - 05/25/26 3:56 PM ET
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The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday urged foreign nationals to leave Kyiv, after Russian forces conducted a large-scale attack on the Ukrainian capital.
Russian forces are carrying out “consistent and systemic strikes at enterprises of the Ukrainian defence industry … including specific facilities for designing, manufacturing and programming drones and preparing them for operation,” the ministry said in a statement, accusing Ukrainian forces of launching an attack on a Russian university on Friday.
“The strikes will target decision-making centres and command posts,” the ministry continued. “Due to the fact that the above-mentioned facilities are scattered across [Kyiv], we are notifying foreign citizens, including the personnel of diplomatic missions and international organisations of the need to leave the city as soon as possible.”
The ministry also urged residents of Kyiv against approaching Ukrainian military and government buildings.
The State Department in a statement said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a call Monday. The duo discussed the Russia-Ukraine war and conflict in Iran, per the readout.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russian forces launched an Oreshnik ballistic missile on Bila Tserkva, a city in central Ukraine that is roughly 50 miles from Kyiv. That was part of a larger attack on Ukraine, with Kyiv the “primary target,” Zelenskyy noted.
“As of now, at least 83 people have been confirmed injured since midnight,” he added in remarks to the Ukrainian people. “Tragically, there are fatalities.”
The Oreshnik, which Russia used against Ukraine in 2024 and earlier this year, is an intermediate-range ballistic missile that can carry multiple warheads and travel at hypersonic speed, according to the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Zelenskyy said that Russia fired 90 missiles “of various types” in the attack, including 36 ballistic missiles. Russian forces also fired 600 drones, the Ukrainian leader added. During the attack, Russian forces launched missiles on a water supply facility, burned down a market, damaged dozens of residential buildings and hit several schools, according to the Ukrainian president.
Over the weekend, scores of leaders from Europe and elsewhere condemned the Russian attack and vowed to stand with Ukraine, as the fifth year of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion continues.
“Russia’s massive attack on Ukraine last night shows the Kremlin’s brutality and disregard for both human life and peace negotiations,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote Sunday on social media. “Terror against civilians is not strength. It’s despair. We stand firmly with Ukraine, with further support on the way to reinforce its air defence systems.”
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media, “France condemns this attack and the use of the Oreshnik ballistic missile, which above all signal a kind of headlong rush and the impasse of Russia’s war of aggression. Our determination to continue supporting Ukraine, to do everything possible for a just and lasting peace, and to strengthen Europe’s security is only reinforced.”
On Monday, Zelenskyy told Ukrainians that his administration is “working with all our partners” on strengthening his country’s air defense capabilities, including speeding up the development of anti-ballistic missiles in Europe.
“Unfortunately, there has been no progress for a long time with America on expanding the production of anti-ballistic capabilities,” Zelensky noted. “We are trying to accelerate work in Europe on producing our own anti-ballistic capabilities on the continent in sufficient quantities.”
Zelenskyy later said that he expects “new diplomatic engagements” with officials from the Trump administration on ending the war.
Updated at 7:21 p.m. EDT
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