U.S. Closes Ukraine Embassy Amid Escalating Tensions and Threat of Air Attacks

On the 20th of this month, the United States took decisive action in light of escalating tensions with Russia, marking a significant development in international relations. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv announced the closure of its facilities, citing credible information regarding a potential significant air attack.

Closure of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine

In a statement, the U.S. Embassy expressed its decision to close its doors “out of an abundance of caution” and promptly instructed its employees to shelter in place. Furthermore, the embassy urged U.S. citizens to “be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced,” underscoring the heightened state of alert in the region.

Kremlin's Reaction

The Kremlin's Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov, responded to inquiries regarding the embassy's closure, attributing it to the ongoing course of the “Special Military Operation”, a term the Kremlin uses to describe its actions in Ukraine. Nevertheless, the closure of the U.S. Embassy serves as a clear indicator of the escalating tensions between the two nations and their respective diplomatic positions.

Frequent Air Alerts in Kyiv

Kyiv has been no stranger to air alerts, experiencing consistent drone and missile attacks by Russia. However, the recent advisory comes on the heels of a heightened discord between Moscow and Washington, particularly following reports revealing that the White House granted Ukraine permission to utilize U.S.-made long-range missiles for attacking targets within Russian territory.

Russia's Defense Reactions

In response to these developments, Russia's defense ministry reported intercepting five U.S.-made ATACMS missiles and successfully neutralizing one additional missile used by Ukraine to target the Bryansk region. Notably, Ukraine has refrained from making an official statement regarding the utilization of long-range American-made missiles for such attacks. The Pentagon, when approached for comment, also chose to remain silent on the matter.