The Kremlin has issued a warning to embassies and ‘decision-making centers’ in Kyiv to evacuate in anticipation of a potential retaliatory strike if Kyiv were to attack Russia’s key Victory Day Parade on Saturday.
Recent developments saw Ukraine carrying out nearly 350 drone attacks across 20 regions in Russia in a significant overnight assault. The attack included targeting a military hub in Moscow, causing explosions heard throughout the country.
This escalation followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s declaration earlier in the week that his troops would retaliate against Moscow’s actions, particularly in response to an incident where Russian forces targeted rescuers at a burning building.
As preparations for Moscow’s Victory Day ceremony were underway, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova urged diplomats to leave Kyiv ahead of a potential Russian strike on key centers. She warned that if Kyiv were to proceed with its plans during the Victory Day celebrations, retaliatory strikes would be launched, including on decision-making centers.
The ongoing conflict traces back to February 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, resulting in Russian forces initially being repelled but holding onto territories in the Donbas region. This conflict stemmed from Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea following the Maidan protests in Kyiv.
Despite efforts to negotiate a ceasefire to safeguard the Victory Day Parade, tensions persist, with fears of a potential Kyiv attack exposing Russian military vulnerabilities. Security measures have been heightened in Moscow in anticipation of the upcoming events this weekend.
Zelensky has indicated that Russia’s Victory Day Parade may be impacted by losses suffered during the conflict, with reports of troops being withdrawn from the frontlines to participate in the ceremony. Concerns are escalating as reports suggest Putin is increasingly seeking refuge from suspected threats by spending more time in underground bunkers.
