Russia Threatens Fresh Strikes on Kyiv Amid Escalating Ukraine War

Russia has threatened to launch a new wave of “systematic strikes” on Kyiv, days after carrying out one of the largest aerial attacks on the Ukrainian capital since the war began.

In a statement, Russia’s foreign ministry said the new attacks would target “decision-making centres and command posts” as well as drone manufacturing facilities in Kyiv. Moscow also urged foreign nationals and diplomats to leave the city “as soon as possible” and warned civilians to avoid administrative and military sites.

Ukraine condemned the warning, calling it “shameless blackmail” and accusing Moscow of trying to intimidate the foreign diplomatic community.

Ukrainian officials said Russian attacks on Kyiv have continued almost weekly since the start of the conflict and warned that the overall security threat remains high.

The latest escalation follows massive Russian strikes over the weekend that killed four people and injured around 100 others in Kyiv and nearby areas, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Russia claimed the attacks were retaliation for what it described as a Ukrainian strike on a student dormitory in the town of Starobilsk in occupied eastern Ukraine, where Russian authorities said 21 people were killed. Ukraine denied targeting civilians, saying its forces had struck an elite Russian drone unit operating in the area.

Videos circulating on social media showed explosions lighting up Kyiv overnight as Russia launched dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones in one of the war’s heaviest aerial assaults. Agencies