U.S.A. has warned that Russia could target Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and Government facilities on the 31st Independence Day of Ukraine
The United States (U.S.) said that it has intelligence that Russia could step-up attacks on civilian infrastructure and Government facilities in coming days and has asked its citizens in Ukraine to return immediately.
The renewed U.S. warning comes as Ukraine is set to mark the 31st Independence Day from the Soviet Union on Wednesday, August 24. 2022. It also marks 6 months of continued Russian assault on Ukrainian civilians, armed forces and civilian infrastructure.
A Security Alert on the Embassy’s Website read, “The US Embassy urges US citizens to depart Ukraine now using privately available ground transportation options if it is safe to do so. The security situation throughout Ukraine is highly volatile and conditions may deteriorate without warning.”
The President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Ukraine may carry out intense attacks, including missile strikes, to coincide with Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Zelenskyy said in a video message, “We must all be aware that this week Russia could try to do something particularly ugly, something particularly vicious.”
Zelenskyy has vowed to raise the country’s flag in parts of Ukraine currently controlled by Russia. He said he will never allow Russian colours on its land.
Zelenskyy said, “Blue-and-yellow flags will fly again at home, where they have a right to be, in all temporarily occupied cities, villages of Ukraine.” His words were followed by a moment of silence in honour of those killed in the conflict.
He further said, “We will never recognize someone’s colours on our land and in our sky. We are always ready to defend our blue-and-yellow flag.”
The City Military Administration in Kyiv has also issued a ban on all big gatherings between Monday and Thursday, saying it is forbidden to hold mass events, peaceful meetings, rallies and other events related to a large gathering of people. The order was imposed so that security forces could respond in a timely manner to threats of missile and bomb attacks by the troops of the Russian Federation on decision-making centers, military facilities, defense industry facilities, critical infrastructure and nearby residential areas.
Last week, the State Department of the U.S. summoned the Russian Ambassador to U.S. – Anatoly Antonov and warned him against any escalation of its war on Ukraine. The U.S. also asked him to cease all military operations at or near Ukraine’s nuclear facilities and to return full control of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant to Ukraine.
Ukraine and Russia have made a barrage of accusations against each other about security and military action at and around the plant, the largest nuclear complex in Europe. But the lack of independent access to the plant, which has been occupied by Russian forces since March, makes it impossible to verify what is happening there.
Besides, Zelenskyy has called for new punitive measures on Russia from Europe, which is bracing for energy shortages after Russia announced a 3-day halt to some gas flows to the continent in apparent retaliation to European Union (E.U.) sanctions.
