The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has issued a warning that there is a greater chance that Russia may launch military operations against Ukraine in the days leading up to Ukrainian Independence Day.
The embassy once more urged Americans to leave as soon as 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 soldiers fired rockets into a number of towns to the north and west of Europe’s largest nuclear power facility, which was taken by Russian forces shortly after they invaded Ukraine in February. These towns are close to frontlines in the south of the nation.
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 control of pro-Moscow forces.
