Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has explicitly warned U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Moscow intends to launch systematic strikes against so called decision making centers in the Ukrainian capital.
The Kremlin is openly urging all foreign diplomats and citizens to evacuate Kyiv immediately as the intensity of the conflict enters a new phase.
The scale of the threat is unprecedented.
Moscow claims these upcoming operations are retaliation for a strike in the Luhansk region.
Over the weekend Russia deployed a massive aerial barrage that included over 90 missiles and 600 drones.
Intelligence confirms the use of the Oreshnik intermediate range ballistic missile which is nuclear capable.
The geopolitical pressure is hitting a boiling point.
While Rubio has relayed a message from Putin to President Trump and maintains that the U.S. remains ready to mediate the situation on the ground suggests otherwise.
European delegations including those from France and Poland are officially refusing to leave despite the warnings.
They are dismissing the Russian directive as intimidation.
The reality on the ground is grim.
Nearly 300 sites across Kyiv have already sustained damage and critical air defense systems are reportedly in short supply.