Russia has renewed its warning to foreign diplomats and citizens in Kyiv to leave Ukraine’s capital, citing intensified and sustained Russian military strikes against Ukrainian military infrastructure.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reiterated the advisory on Tuesday while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 2026 Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
Zakharova said the recommendation, which was initially issued in May, remains valid, arguing that the Russian military has shifted to systematic and sustained attacks on military infrastructure across Ukraine.
“The recommendation of the Russian Foreign Ministry, which was issued back in May of this year, has not lost its relevance; on the contrary, it remains fully valid,” Zakharova said, according to reports.
She urged the diplomatic corps and foreign citizens in Kyiv to evacuate, citing the changing security situation in the Ukrainian capital.
Zakharova also criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over his reported calls for an increase in drone strikes against Russian territory.
She argued that plans to intensify such attacks raise questions about Kyiv’s commitment to pursuing a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
The comments came as the Eastern Economic Forum opened in Vladivostok, Russia, with the event scheduled to run from September 1 to 4.
The Russia-Ukraine war has increasingly involved long-range missile and drone attacks alongside continued fighting along the eastern and southern frontlines.
Russian forces have targeted Ukrainian military installations, energy infrastructure and other strategic facilities, while Ukrainian forces have carried out attacks on military assets, airfields and energy-related infrastructure inside Russia.
Kyiv has also expanded its domestic drone production and long-range strike capabilities as the conflict continues.
The intensification of long-range attacks has heightened concerns over the safety of civilians and diplomatic personnel operating in and around Kyiv.
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