Canada, US Close Embassies to Public in Ukraine Due to Threat of Russian Strikes

Canada, US Close Embassies to Public in Ukraine Due to Threat of Russian Strikes
American flag waves in front of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Nov. 20, 2024. The Canadian Press/AP-Efrem Lukatsky
The Canadian Press
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The Canadian and American embassies in Ukraine are closed to the public today after the U.S. warned of a “potential significant air attack” by Russia in Kyiv.

Ukraine’s intelligence agency posted a statement today accusing Russia of spreading fake messages about the threat of an “extremely massive” attack on Ukrainian cities and urging people not to panic.

A message from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv says it received specific information about a possible attack and out of an abundance of caution, employees are sheltering in place.

Global Affairs Canada’s website says in-person services at the Canadian Embassy are temporarily suspended.

Ukraine used U.S.-supplied missiles to strike inside Russia for the first time this week, a move the Kremlin says adds “fuel to the fire” of the war.

U.S. President Joe Biden gave the green light for Kyiv to strike Russian targets and to use antipersonnel landmines, as part of a larger effort to bolster Ukraine’s defence before Donald Trump takes over the White House in January.