Russia warns foreigners to leave Kyiv as it prepares systematic strikes'

Russia says it will launch systematic strikes on defense industrial facilities in Kyiv in response to a Ukrainian drone attack last week that hit a student dorm in Starobilsk in occupied Luhansk, killing at least 18 people and wounding 42. Russia frames the attack as a violation of international humanitarian law and claims it signals the “last straw.” The planned strikes are described as targeting sites where UAVs are designed, manufactured, programmed, and prepared for use. Russia also warns foreign citizens, including diplomatic and international organization personnel, to leave Kyiv as soon as possible, and urges residents to avoid military and administrative infrastructure facilities.

"Russia has warned it plans to launch a series of systematic strikes on defence industrial facilities in Kyiv, and urged foreign citizens to leave the Ukrainian capital. In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said the strikes are in response to a Ukrainian drone attack last week that struck a student dorm in Starobilsk in the occupied Luhansk region, killing at least 18 people."

"The Russian Foreign Ministry said in Monday's statement that the strike on Starobilsk signalled the last straw and that Russia will launch a systematic series of strikes in response, which will target specific sites where UAVs are designed, manufactured, programmed, and prepared for use. Noting that such facilities are scattered throughout Kyiv, the statement said it was warning foreign citizens, including personnel of diplomatic missions and international organisations, to leave the city as soon as possible."

"It also urged Kyiv residents to avoid approaching military and administrative infrastructure facilities, the statement read. Launched overnight on Thursday into Friday, the drone salvo that hit Starobilsk one of Ukraine's deadliest such strikes in months also wounded 42 people. The Foreign Ministry statement labelled it a flagrant disregard for international humanitarian law, and yet another blatant demonstration of the Nazi and terrorist nature of the Kyiv regime, which deliberately attacks civilians and does not hesitate to murder children in cold blood."

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