Peskov says Foreign, Defense Ministries warned of danger for embassies in Kyiv
In short
Presidential press secretary Peskov said Russia's Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry have warned about the danger of embassies operating in Kyiv, TASS reported. He said decisions on whether to work in Kyiv remain with the diplomatic missions themselves, and that Russian armed forces will continue their work regardless of what countries decide about their embassies there. TASS said the topics of his briefing also included the situation at Russian borders, with Peskov saying the “special military operation” continues and Russian servicemen are carrying out their work.
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Presidential press secretary Peskov said Russia's Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry had warned about the danger of embassies operating in Kyiv, TASS reported. According to RIA Novosti, Peskov said decisions on working in Kyiv remain with the diplomatic missions themselves, and TASS reported him saying that Russian armed forces will continue their work regardless of any countries' decisions on the operation of their embassies in Kyiv. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
TASS listed the work of embassies in Kyiv and the situation at Russian borders among the topics of Peskov's briefing, and said he stated that the “special military operation” continues and that Russian servicemen are carrying out their work. The documents do not name the countries concerned, describe the specific danger cited, or report any decision by a diplomatic mission to leave Kyiv. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The statements concern the safety of foreign embassies in Kyiv and signal that Moscow is publicly flagging risk to diplomatic missions there, while saying its own military operations are unaffected. Because the comments come from the presidential press secretary and were carried by state outlets, they set the official line other governments will weigh when deciding whether to keep staff in Kyiv.
Key facts
- Presidential press secretary Peskov said the Russian Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry warned about the danger of embassies working in Kyiv, according to TASS [ 1 ]
- Peskov said Russian armed forces will continue their work regardless of any countries' decisions on the operation of their embassies in Kyiv, TASS reported [ 2 ]
- Peskov said decisions about working in Kyiv remain with the diplomatic missions themselves, RIA Novosti reported [ 3 ]
- TASS listed the work of embassies in Kyiv and the situation at Russian borders among the topics of Peskov's briefing [ 4 ]
- At the briefing Peskov said the “special military operation” continues and Russian servicemen are performing their work, according to TASS [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Peskov said the Russian Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry warned about the danger of embassies operating in Kyiv [ 1 ]
- Peskov said Russian armed forces will continue their work regardless of countries' decisions on their embassies in Kyiv [ 2 ]
- Peskov said decisions on working in Kyiv rest with the diplomatic missions themselves [ 3 ]
Still unclear
- Which countries or embassies the warning applies to, and whether any mission has decided to leave Kyiv or change its staffing The documents quote Peskov on the warning and on who decides, but name no country and report no decision by any diplomatic mission
- What specific danger to embassies in Kyiv the Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry cited The documents say a warning was issued but give no detail on its content or basis
- What the situation at Russian borders referred to at the briefing involves TASS lists the situation at Russian borders as a briefing topic without describing it
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports Peskov saying the Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry warned about the danger of embassies working in Kyiv [ 1 ]
- TASS reports Peskov saying Russian armed forces will continue their work regardless of countries' decisions on their embassies in Kyiv [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti reports Peskov saying decisions on working in Kyiv remain with the diplomatic missions [ 3 ]
- TASS publishes a summary of Peskov's briefing, listing embassies in Kyiv and the situation at Russian borders as topics and saying he stated the “special military operation” continues [ 4 ]