The UK will do “everything we can” to keep Britons safe in Ukraine following a warning about a possible Russian air strike on the US embassy in Kyiv, a minister has said.
The US Embassy in the Ukrainian capital announced it is shutting on Wednesday after receiving “specific information of a potential significant air attack” and told its citizens in Ukraine to be ready to swiftly seek shelter.
The Italian and Greek embassies said they had also closed their doors after the unusual US warning, while the French embassy remained open but urged its citizens to be cautious. The UK embassy was staying open for now.
In a statement, the US Embassy said: “Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy will be closed, and Embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place.
“The US Embassy recommends US citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced.”
Science Secretary Peter Kyle said it is examining the security situation for British diplomats in Kyiv "incredibly closely,” adding the Government will work to keep British citizens safe.
The Foreign Office updated its advice to UK citizens in Ukraine on Wednesday amid “ongoing risks from frequent missile and drone attacks across the country.”
“Exercise heightened awareness and be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced”, it said.
Mr Kyle told Times Radio: "I'm not going to share details at the moment of operational matters that are on the ground in Kyiv.
"(What I) can reassure you is that we are looking at the situation incredibly closely.
"We have very good relationships with the government in Kyiv and with the United States. We will do everything we can to keep British citizens safe.
"But there's just been no doubt this conflict has gone on for over 1,000 days now. It was caused by the illegal, unwarranted and unprovoked attack by Vladimir Putin."
He said the conflict "could be brought to an end instantly, if Vladimir Putin himself decided to de-escalate, rather than continually escalate the circumstances around this conflict".
The UK embassy in Kyiv has been operating a limited diplomatic function in recent months and not providing in-person consular assistance.
The US embassy closure comes a day after Ukraine used US ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory, taking advantage of newly granted permission from the outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden on the war's 1,000th day.
Ukraine: The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv received specific information of a potential significant air attack on Nov 20. The Embassy will be closed and recommends U.S. citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced. https://t.co/ah0bpDfULK pic.twitter.com/m8cWXCXT2V
— Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) November 20, 2024
On Tuesday Moscow said six US-made ATACM missiles were fired at Russia’s Bryansk region, in what would be Kyiv's first use of the weapon inside the country.
Earlier on Wednesday, military officials in Kyiv said the country’s air defences were trying to repel an attack on the city.
It comes as US President Joe Biden approved provision of anti-personnel land mines to Ukraine, a step that could help slow Russian advances in its east, especially when used along with other weapons from the United States.
The United States expects Ukraine to use the mines in its own territory, though it has committed not to use them in areas populated with its own civilians, a US official said. The Washington Post first reported the development.
The United States has provided Ukraine with anti-tank mines throughout its war with Russia, but the addition of anti-personnel mines aims at blunting the advance of Russian ground troops, the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The US mines differ from Russia's as they are "non-persistent," and become inert after a preset period, the official said. They require a battery to detonate, and will not explode once the battery runs out.
The war has taken on a growing international dimension with the arrival of North Korean troops to help Russia on the battlefield — a development which US officials said prompted Biden's policy shift.
Russia pounded the Ukrainian power grid with 120 missiles and 90 drones on Sunday, causing damage to the power system and killing seven people in an attack that renewed fears over the durability of the hobbled energy network.
The embassy in Kyiv urged US citizens in Ukraine to have reserves of water, food and other essentials such as required medications for the event of a "possible temporary loss of electricity and water" caused by Russian strikes.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian Security Council's Centre for Countering Disinformation, said Russia was ready to conduct more airstrikes, as he commented on the U. statement.
"Let me remind you that the Russians have been stockpiling missiles for a series of attacks on Ukraine for months. This includes Kh-101 missiles, which they continue to produce, as well as Kalibrs and ballistics," he said.
Russia had been warning the West for months that if Washington allowed Ukraine to fire US, British and French missiles deep into Russia, Moscow would consider those NATO members to be directly involved in the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in October that Moscow would respond to Ukraine's strikes with US-made weapons deep into Russia.
Putin lowered the threshold for a nuclear strike on Tuesday in response to a broader range of conventional attacks, with nuclear risks rising amid the highest tensions between Russia and West in more than half a century.
