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KYIV – Russia said on Monday that it intended to launch “systematic strikes” on targets in Kyiv linked to the Ukrainian military as well as decision-making centers, and urged foreigners to leave, a day after one of its heaviest bombardments of the city since the start of the war.

But Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged Kyiv’s allies not to give in to “Russian blackmail.” And the head of the EU mission in the city said the 27-nation bloc was “not going anywhere.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement, that the impending strikes were “in response to the continuing terrorist attacks by the Kyiv regime” against civilians in Russia.

The statement said Russia’s armed forces “are starting systematic strikes on facilities located in Kyiv that are used for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as on centers where the corresponding decisions are being made.”

An earlier Russian Foreign Ministry statement urged foreigners, including diplomats, to leave Kyiv as quickly as possible.

Russia has cited what it describes as a deliberate drone strike last Friday on a student dorm in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine’s military denied the Russian accusations and said it had struck an elite drone command unit in the area.

In Kyiv, rescuers tackled the aftermath of Sunday’s strikes, which authorities said had killed two people and injured 91.

Moscow fired an Oreshnik hypersonic missile near Kyiv — its third use of the nuclear-capable weapon in more than four years of war.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha wrote on the social media platform X: “We are currently discussing with our partners that there is no need to give in to this Russian blackmail.”

The head of the EU mission in Kyiv, Katarina Mathernova, said the Russian warning sought to sow panic.

“Russia wants fear. Panic. Isolation of Ukraine. It will not work,” she said on social media. “The EU is not going anywhere. We are staying in Kyiv. We are staying with Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said around 300 sites across Kyiv had been damaged in the weekend strikes, including a newly opened museum devoted to the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear disaster.

More than 70 foreign diplomats paid their respects to the victims of the strikes in Kyiv, visiting the heavily damaged neighborhood of Lukyanivka on Monday.

Attacks in Russia, Ukraine

Meanwhile, Ukraine continued its own attacks against Russian infrastructure and industrial assets.

In Russia’s Belgorod region, one man was killed and another injured in a missile and drone attack that also cut power and water supplies, local authorities said on Telegram.

The Russia-installed head of parts of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, said seven people were killed in Ukrainian attacks, including a family of four whose car was struck in the industrial town of Horlivka.

In Ukrainian-held territory, two people were killed and 16 wounded in Russian attacks over 24 hours in the southern Kherson region, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram.

In a missile attack on Monday on the town of Derhachi near Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-biggest city, two people were killed and more than 20 injured, officials said.

In the Black Sea port of Odesa, a frequent Russian target, the city’s top official said one person was killed and three injured in a Russian strike.

A further 14 were wounded in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, officials said. Emergency services said drones attacked a nine-story apartment building in the town of Pavlohrad.

The governor of those parts of Donetsk region held by Ukraine, Vadym Filashkin, said 12 people had been hurt in the frontline city of Kramatorsk.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports. Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022.</

Kyiv

Kyiv is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, with a history dating back over 1,400 years. Founded in the 5th century, it became the center of the powerful medieval state of Kyivan Rus’ and the birthplace of Eastern Slavic Orthodox Christianity. Today, Kyiv is a vibrant cultural hub, known for its golden-domed cathedrals, historic monasteries, and the iconic Independence Square.

Luhansk region

The Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine has historically been an important industrial and mining hub, particularly for coal and heavy machinery, dating back to the 19th century. Its administrative center, the city of Luhansk, was founded in 1795 and developed rapidly during the Soviet era. Since 2014, the region has been a focal point of the Russo-Ukrainian War, with large parts under the control of Russian-backed separatists.

Chornobyl nuclear disaster museum

The Chornobyl Nuclear Disaster Museum, located in Kyiv, Ukraine, is dedicated to preserving the memory of the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear catastrophe. It houses artifacts, photographs, and personal accounts that document the disaster’s causes, the heroic efforts of liquidators, and the profound human and environmental consequences. The museum serves as both a somber memorial and an educational resource on the dangers of nuclear power and the resilience of those affected.

Lukyanivka

Lukyanivka is a historic neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, known for its 19th-century development as a working-class and industrial area. It is also the site of the infamous Lukyanivska Prison, built in the 1860s, which has held political prisoners under various regimes, including the Soviet era. Today, the area blends residential streets with remnants of its industrial past and is served by the Lukyanivska metro station.

Belgorod region

The Belgorod region, located in southwestern Russia near the border with Ukraine, has a rich history as a key defensive frontier since the 16th century, when the Belgorod Fortress was established to protect Moscow from Crimean Tatar raids. During World War II, the area was heavily contested and suffered significant destruction, notably during the Battle of Kursk in 1943. Today, it is known for its agricultural production and as a cultural and economic hub, with the city of Belgorod serving as its administrative center.

Donetsk region

The Donetsk region, located in eastern Ukraine, is a historically significant industrial and mining hub, particularly known for its vast coal deposits that fueled rapid development during the 19th and 20th centuries. Its major city, Donetsk, was founded in 1869 by Welsh businessman John Hughes, leading to the area’s early name of Yuzovka. In recent decades, the region has been a focal point of conflict, including the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, which has caused widespread destruction and displacement.

Horlivka

Horlivka is a city in eastern Ukraine, located in the Donetsk region, with a history dating back to its founding in 1779 as a small settlement. It grew rapidly in the late 19th century due to the development of coal mining and heavy industry, becoming a major industrial hub. Since 2014, the city has been under the control of Russian-backed separatist forces, and it has suffered significant damage from ongoing conflict.

Odesa

Odesa is a major port city on the Black Sea coast of Ukraine, known for its rich cultural heritage and stunning 19th-century architecture. Founded in 1794 by a decree of Empress Catherine the Great, the city quickly grew into a thriving cosmopolitan hub due to its strategic location and role in trade. Its iconic Potemkin Steps and the Odesa Opera and Ballet Theatre reflect its history as a melting pot of diverse cultures, though the city has also faced significant challenges, including damage during World War II and recent conflicts.