The U.S. Warns Citizens To Leave Ukraine

The U.S. Warns Citizens To Leave Ukraine

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has warned of an increased possibility of Russian military strikes on Ukraine in the coming days around Ukrainian independence day.

The embassy again urged U.S. citizens to leave if they could.

“The Department of State has information that Russia is stepping up efforts to launch strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government facilities in the coming days,” the embassy said in an alert on its website.

“The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Ukraine now using privately available ground transportation options if it is safe to do so,” the alert said, repeating the advice of previous security warnings.

Due to an increased possibility of assault, Kyiv has decided to forbid any public celebrations in the city on Wednesday, the anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union.

Ukraine claimed that Russian forces fired rockets into several towns to the north and west of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which was taken by Russian forces shortly after they invaded Ukraine in February. These towns are close to the frontlines in the south of the country.

There have been calls for the area to be demilitarized due to artillery and rocket fire near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactor complex on the south bank of the Dnipro River.

Ukrainians who live close to the plant have expressed concern that one of the six reactors there could be hit by shells, which could have disastrous effects.

“Of course, we are worried. … It’s like sitting on a powder keg,” said Alexander Lifirenko, a resident of the nearby town of Enerhodar, now under the control of pro-Moscow forces. (Reuters/NAN)