Kremlin says Kyiv work is dangerous; embassy decisions left to each country
In short
Kremlin spokesman Peskov said on October 5 that Russia's Foreign and Defense Ministries have warned that working in Kyiv is dangerous, but that each country decides for itself on the operation of its embassy there. Peskov said Russian forces will keep carrying out their tasks regardless, and that Ukraine has expanded its list of targets among Russian civilian economic sites, which Russia is retaliating against. Ukraine has not responded, the reports said.
Read the full story 1 min read
Kremlin spokesman Peskov said on October 5 that Russia's Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry have warned that working in Kyiv is dangerous, but that the decision on embassy operations belongs to each country, according to reports by CLS and Jiemian. Speaking at a routine news briefing, Peskov said that regardless of what countries decide about their embassies in Kyiv, Russian forces will continue to carry out their tasks. [ 1 , 3 ]
Peskov also said Ukraine had expanded its list of targets among Russian civilian economic sites and that Russia is retaliating for those attacks, the two reports said. Ukraine has not responded, they said. [ 1 , 3 ]
Jiemian's report, citing CCTV News, noted that on October 3 Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement again warning foreign citizens and diplomats not to remain in Kyiv or near Ukraine's military facilities. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The remarks bear on whether foreign governments keep diplomatic staff in Kyiv, and they come as Moscow says it is retaliating for Ukrainian strikes on Russian economic targets. Beyond the warning itself, the documents give no detail on how many countries might change their embassy operations or on the scale of the reported strikes.
Key facts
- Kremlin spokesman Peskov said Russia's Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry had warned that working in Kyiv is dangerous, but that each country decides for itself on its embassy's operation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Peskov said that however countries decide on their Kyiv embassies, Russian forces will continue to carry out their tasks. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Peskov said Ukraine had expanded its list of targets among Russian civilian economic sites and that Russia is retaliating. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Ukraine has not responded to the remarks, the reports said. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Jiemian, citing CCTV News, noted that on October 3 Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement again warning foreign citizens and diplomats not to remain in Kyiv or near Ukraine's military facilities. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Peskov said Russia's Foreign and Defense Ministries have warned that working in Kyiv is dangerous and that each country decides on its own embassy operations there. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Peskov said Russian forces will continue to carry out their tasks regardless of how countries decide on their Kyiv embassies. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Peskov said Ukraine has expanded its list of targets among Russian civilian economic sites and that Russia is retaliating. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Ukraine has not responded, according to the reports. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Which countries, if any, have changed or plan to change the operation of their embassies in Kyiv. The documents say the decision rests with each country but name no country and report no decision.
- Whether Ukraine has in fact expanded its list of targets among Russian civilian economic sites. This is Peskov's assertion as reported; the documents carry no Ukrainian response or independent confirmation.
- What the October 3 statement by Russia's Foreign Ministry said in full. Mentioned only in one document, as a summary reference, without the text of the statement.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reports Peskov's remarks at the routine news briefing, including that Russia's Foreign and Defense Ministries have warned of danger in Kyiv and that Ukraine has not responded. [ 1 ]
- Yicai carries the same headline on Peskov's statement. [ 2 ]
- Jiemian reports the remarks and adds, citing CCTV News, that Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on October 3 again warning foreign citizens and diplomats not to stay in Kyiv or near Ukraine's military facilities. [ 3 ]