The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, announced it would close on November 20 after receiving warnings of a "severe airstrike."
"The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has received specific information regarding the likelihood of a severe airstrike on November 20. The embassy will remain closed, and staff have been instructed to shelter in place for their safety. We also advise U.S. citizens to be prepared to seek shelter immediately if air raid alarms sound," the embassy stated.
The advisory was published on the embassy’s official website and categorized as part of the U.S. State Department's travel advisories for Americans abroad (MASCOT). Reuters noted that the advisory was also shared by the State Department's Consular Affairs Bureau. The embassy urged U.S. citizens in Ukraine to monitor local media for updates, pre-identify shelters in case of alarms, move to secure locations when alarms are activated, and follow instructions from local authorities and emergency responders during critical situations.
Kyiv's military administration reported ongoing air defense efforts to intercept Russian strikes targeting the city but provided no further details. According to Ukrainska Pravda, drone attacks began around 6 a.m., though the scale and damage remain unclear.
On November 17, U.S. media reported that President Joe Biden had approved the use of American long-range weapons by Ukraine for deep strikes into Russian territory.
On November 19, Ukraine’s military announced a strike on a Russian weapons depot in the town of Karachev in Bryansk province, approximately 110 km from the border, reporting 12 secondary explosions after the attack. While Kyiv did not specify the weapon used, Ukrainian and U.S. officials confirmed to Reuters that ATACMS missiles were employed.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that it intercepted five ATACMS missiles targeting Bryansk, with one damaged and debris causing a fire at a military facility without casualties.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserted that Ukraine could not independently operate ATACMS without American expertise, particularly in satellite data input and target programming. Lavrov warned that Ukraine’s use of ATACMS marked "a new phase in the West’s war against Russia" and vowed that Russia would respond appropriately.
(According to Reuters, RIA Novosti)
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