Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone conversation yesterday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, explicitly urging the United States to evacuate its diplomats and citizens from Kyiv.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov made the call at the direct request of President Vladimir Putin. Moscow stated that Russian forces are initiating “systematic, consistent, and continuous strikes” against Ukrainian defense industry facilities and “decision-making centers” in the capital.
Escalation and the “Oreshnik” Deployment
- The Pretext: Moscow framed the warning as retaliation for a Ukrainian drone attack on a college dormitory in the Russian-occupied city of Starobilsk (Luhansk region), which reportedly killed several students. Ukraine confirmed hitting a Russian drone unit headquarters in the area but rejected claims that civilian infrastructure was targeted.
- The Weekend Barrage: The warning follows a massive Russian aerial bombardment over the weekend of May 23–24. Russia launched roughly 600 drones and 90 missiles, including an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile—marking only the third time Russia has deployed this experimental, nuclear-capable weapon.
- Kyiv Damage: The weekend assault caused widespread destruction across six Ukrainian regions. In Kyiv, around 300 sites were damaged, including residential neighborhoods, historical sites like the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and areas surrounding Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry building.
Western and Ukrainian Responses
The warning is widely viewed by Kyiv and its allies as a psychological tactic designed to trigger a diplomatic exodus and foster widespread panic.
“Russia wants fear, panic, and the isolation of Ukraine. It will not work.”
— Katarina Mathernova, Head of the EU Mission in Kyiv, confirming EU personnel are staying.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha dismissed the threats as “Russian blackmail,” urging allies not to cave to intimidation. While the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv had issued an automated alert warning of potential air attacks prior to the weekend strikes, Washington has not yet announced a formal evacuation following the Lavrov-Rubio call.
The spike in tensions coincides with a stall in peace efforts. Secretary Rubio recently noted that Washington had effectively stepped back from an active mediator role, citing a lack of progress in recent talks.
