Russian Foreign Ministry calls for evacuation of foreign diplomats from Kyiv

The Russian Foreign Ministry has sent a call to all accredited diplomatic missions and representations of international organizations to evacuate diplomats from Kyiv, announced the official spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.

She quoted a note distributed by the Russian Foreign Ministry. According to Russian media, the document states that on May 4, the Russian Ministry of Defense threatened a strike on Ukraine 'in connection with threats … to strike Moscow' on Victory Day.

The authors of the note stated that the message from the Russian military department should be treated 'with the utmost responsibility.' The Russian Foreign Ministry urged to 'ensure the timely evacuation' of foreign diplomats from the Ukrainian capital 'in connection with the inevitability of a retaliatory strike' on Kyiv and 'decision-making centers' in case of a Ukrainian attack on May 9.

According to Zakharova, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy threatened to 'disrupt Victory Day in Moscow with terrorist acts.' In response, the Russian Ministry of Defense published its threats on the same day. 'We are not acting from a position of aggression; we are acting from a position of inevitable response to aggression,' Zakharova said.

As a reminder, on May 4, Russia and Ukraine announced plans to temporarily cease fire, but they did not agree on the timing of the truce. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that there would be a 'truce in honor of the celebration of Victory Day' on May 8-9. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a 'regime of silence' starting from midnight on May 6.

On May 6, Zelenskyy accused Russia of violating the 'regime of silence,' noting that Ukraine 'will act in a mirror-like manner.' 'Depending on the situation, tonight and tomorrow (May 6 and 7), we will also determine our completely fair responses,' the Ukrainian leader stated on Wednesday evening.