Media Wire Express Correspondent
The United States announced the reopening of its embassy in Kyiv late Wednesday after a temporary shutdown earlier in the day due to concerns over a significant airstrike threat.
The closure came a day after Ukraine deployed American-supplied missiles to target a site inside Russia.
The strike, involving U.S.-made ATACMS missiles, prompted Russia to accuse Ukraine and its Western allies of escalating the conflict, now in its 1,000th day.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency dismissed Moscow’s claims, accusing Russia of spreading fake online messages to incite panic about a potential missile and drone attack.
“@USEmbassyKyiv has resumed services following a temporary shelter-in-place suspension earlier today,” U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink posted on X (formerly Twitter). She advised U.S. citizens in Ukraine to remain alert, monitor official Ukrainian sources, and be prepared to shelter during air alerts.
The U.S. State Department said it expected the Kyiv embassy to resume full operations on Thursday. Earlier, the department cited “an abundance of caution” for the closure, instructing embassy staff to shelter in place and urging U.S. citizens to prepare for immediate action during air alerts.
Read More: Russia Warns of Retaliation Amid U.S.-Ukraine Talks
Italy and Greece also closed their embassies in Kyiv, while France kept its embassy open but advised citizens to exercise heightened caution.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned against panic, emphasizing the importance of taking air raid alerts seriously.
“However many brutal and treacherous attacks by Russia we have endured… it is always important to pay attention to air raid warnings,” he said in his nightly address. “We have a neighbor that is insane.”
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency echoed this sentiment, accusing Russia of using psychological pressure and intimidation.
“The enemy resorts to measures of intimidation and psychological pressure on society. We ask you to be vigilant and steadfast,” the agency said.
Zelensky also expressed gratitude for a newly announced $275 million U.S. military aid package, which includes ammunition, drones, and missiles. This latest assistance aligns with the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden granting Ukraine permission to use Western-supplied missiles for strikes inside Russia.
Moscow, meanwhile, warned of severe consequences. Russian foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin stated that Russia would retaliate against NATO countries facilitating Ukrainian long-range strikes on its territory.
The Kremlin declined to comment on the U.S. embassy closure, though officials continue to frame Western military support for Ukraine as a significant escalation in the ongoing war.
