US and several other countries temporarily close Kyiv embassies due to threat of major airstrikes

US Embassy in Kyiv

"Out of an abundance of caution, the embassy in Kyiv will close and staff will be asked to take cover," Reuters quoted the notice of the US State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs posted on the website of the US embassy in Ukraine.

"The US Embassy advises US citizens to prepare to seek shelter as soon as air raid sirens sound," the embassy warned. At the same time, US citizens are also urged to stock up on water, food and other essentials in case of power and water outages after the Russian airstrike.

Following the unusual US warning, the Italian and Greek embassies took similar action, while the French embassy remained open despite advising citizens to increase vigilance.

The German Embassy in Kyiv is also open on a limited basis and citizens can still contact it in case of emergency.

"We are in constant contact with our colleagues in Kyiv so that we can take appropriate measures in a timely manner if the situation changes," Reuters quoted a German Foreign Ministry official as saying.

By noon on November 20, air raid sirens were heard in Kyiv and the Ukrainian air force ordered people to take shelter. Senior officials warned people not to ignore the warning sirens.

The Kremlin has not commented on the information. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian General Intelligence Service accused Russia of launching a psychological attack against Ukraine by spreading fake news on social media about an airstrike on Kyiv.

In an interview published on November 20, Director of the Russian Federal Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin announced that Moscow will retaliate against NATO member countries that provide long-range missiles to Ukraine to attack Russian territory.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/my-va-mot-so-nuoc-khac-tam-dong-su-quan-kyiv-truoc-nguy-co-khong-kich-lon-185241120202027003.htm