THE US Embassy in Kyiv has shut down as Ukraine braces for a huge Russian airstrike.
It comes a day after Ukraine used US-supplied ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory for the first time – and Moscow warned it would “react accordingly”.
ReutersUkraine searches for drones over Kyiv during a Russian drone strike[/caption]
AFPThe US Embassy has shut ahead of a potential air strike on Kyiv[/caption]
The US Embassy said: “Out of an abundance of caution, the embassy will be closed, and embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place.”
It “recommends US citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced”.
The UK government is also examining the security situation for Brit diplomats in Kyiv “incredibly closely”.
Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that Moscow will respond to Ukraine’s strikes with US-made weapons deep into Russia.
And just days after the US approved Ukrainian use of its far-reaching rockets, Vlad signed a new doctrine to lower the bar for launching a nuclear strike.
Almost simultaneously, Ukrainian media reported the first use of the ATACMS missiles on Russian territory.
Ukraine’s military did not comment on the use of the weapons – but took responsibility for a blaze at a weapons depot in the city of Karachev, Bryansk, 70 miles over the border.
The Kremlin claimed Ukraine had fired six ATACMS – claiming they caused no serious damage.
It said it marked the crossing of a red line – officially putting nuclear retaliation on the table.
On Wednesday, the Kremlin said a special hotline in place to deal with crises between Moscow and Washington was not currently in use.
The hotline was set up in 1963 after the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 to allow direct communication between US and Russian leaders.
Putin was left raging when US President Joe Biden finally approved use of the far-reaching rockets by Ukraine on Sunday.
His puppet Dmitry Peskov swore that the use of Western non-nuclear missiles by Ukraine’s armies could spark a nuclear response.
Russia has issued countless similar threats in the past – invoking fears of possible nuclear escalation in the West.
Sir Keir Starmer said Britain will not be cowed by Putin’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric.
Asked at the G20 summit in Brazil whether Brits should prepare for a nuclear war, he said: “This is irresponsible rhetoric coming from Russia and that is not going to deter our support for Ukraine.”
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