US reopens its embassy in Kyiv hours after shutting it down over threats of Russian airstrike

The United States announced that it has reopened its embassy in Ukraine’s Kyiv, hours after the consulate was shut down over fears of Russian airstrikes. US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said that the American embassy has resumed its services in the Ukrainian capital.

On Wednesday morning, the embassy in Kyiv issued an urgent warning that Russia might launch “a significant air attack,” closing the embassy and telling employees to shelter in place. Other Western embassies followed the same suit. The warnings came after Ukraine conducted a major strike within the Russian territory using US and UK long-range missiles.

“US Embassy in Kyiv has resumed services following a temporary shelter-in-place suspension earlier today,” Ambassador Brink wrote on X, formally known as Twitter. “We continue to encourage U.S. citizens to remain vigilant, monitor official Ukrainian sources for updates, and be prepared to shelter in place if an air alert is announced,” she added.

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.@USEmbassyKyiv has resumed services following a temporary shelter-in-place suspension earlier today. We continue to encourage U.S. citizens to remain vigilant, monitor official Ukrainian sources for updates, and be prepared to shelter in place if an air alert is announced.…

— U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (@USAmbKyiv) November 20, 2024

Zelenskyy urges people to not panic

Amid the chaos, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the t “panic-inducing messages circulated today only help Russia”, but warned Ukrainians to pay close attention to air raid alerts.

“However many brutal and treacherous attacks by Russia we have endured… it is always important to pay attention to air raid warnings,” he said in his nightly video address. “We have a neighbour that is insane,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military intelligence body said: “The enemy, unable to subdue Ukrainians by force, resorts to measures of intimidation and psychological pressure on society. We ask you to be vigilant and steadfast.” The US was not the only country which shut down its consulate in the Ukrainian capital.

Italy and Greece also shut down their embassies to the public for the day. The war, which marked 1000-day, took a new turn after Ukraine was allowed to use Western long-range missiles within the Russian territory. Not only this, the US has also now allowed Ukraine to use US-supplied anti-personnel landmines to help in the fight against Russian forces. All eyes are now on Russia as the West anticipates a retaliatory attack.

With inputs from Reuters.