ALBAWABA - The US Embassy in Kyiv will be shutting down its doors following reports of a potentially significant Russian air attack, the US Department of State Consular Affairs said in a statement.
The advisory also urged all US citizens to be prepared and remain alert in case of any air alert is released. " Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy will be closed, and Embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place,".
The shutdown comes only a day after Ukraine used long-range missiles to strike Russia, which the latter warned that if US-made missiles were to be used to attack Russian territories, western countries "will suffer consequences".
Russia said that any Western-supplied missiles used against its lands would put a bullseye on the backs of countries like the US, UK, and France, making them a legitimate target in the eyes of Russia.
This comes as the Biden administration scrambles to do everything it can to support Kyiv in its war against Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, U.S. officials said Tuesday that the Pentagon will ship Ukraine at least $275 million in new weapons.
This week, Russian President Vladimir Putin formally lowered the threshold for launching nuclear weapons after President Joe Biden granted Ukraine permission to fire longer-range missiles deeper into Russia.
Although Moscow is cautioning that Ukraine's new use of the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, inside Russia on Tuesday could provoke a severe response, U.S. officials argue that Russia's shift in nuclear policy was anticipated.
