Russia has warned foreign embassies in the Ukrainian capital city, Kyiv, to evacuate their personnel in anticipation of a possible attack during the Victory Day parade in Moscow this weekend.
This directive comes despite the Ukrainian president’s offer of a truce that would extend before, during, and potentially after the anniversary, contingent upon Russia ceasing its attacks on Ukraine.
Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has insisted on a limited ceasefire strictly on his own terms to safeguard his prominent annual parade.
In a communication to foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations, Russia cautioned that it would initiate a “retaliatory” strike on the Ukrainian capital, “including against decision-making centres,” should Ukraine disrupt the commemorations this Saturday.
Russia urged these entities to “ensure the timely evacuation of personnel from diplomatic and other missions, as well as citizens, from the city of Kyiv.”
Ukraine had proposed its own ceasefire commencing on 6 May, which Russia has disregarded.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, stated that Russia, which has not confirmed its acceptance of Ukraine’s proposal, had committed 1,820 violations by late morning on Wednesday.
“Russia’s choice is a clear rejection of a ceasefire and of efforts to save lives,” Zelenskyy said
He added that Ukraine is prepared to pursue peace, but “if the one individual in Moscow who cannot exist without war is solely focused on a parade and nothing else, that is a different issue.
“Russia has engaged in conflict to the extent that even their principal parade now relies on us.”
On Wednesday, Russian drones struck a kindergarten in the north-eastern city of Sumy, resulting in the death of a security guard and injuries to two others, according to officials.
No children were present at the time, as reported by Luke Harding. Russian assaults on 14 regions of Ukraine since last Friday have resulted in the deaths of at least 70 civilians and injuries to over 500, according to the UN human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine on Wednesday.
Additionally, five individuals were killed by a Ukrainian drone strike in the city of Dzhankoi in occupied Crimea, as reported by the Russia-installed governor, Sergei Aksyonov.
