Russia-Ukraine war: US embassy in Kyiv closes over threat of ‘significant attack’ as Kremlin rules out ‘freeze’ in conflict

Guardian:

Russia-Ukraine war: US embassy in Kyiv closes over threat of ‘significant attack’ as Kremlin rules out ‘freeze’ in conflict

US embassy has received ‘specific information’ of potentially significant air attack; Russia spokesperson attacks Biden administration





US embassy in Kyiv shuts over anticipated air attack

The US embassy in Kyiv has received “specific information” of a potential significant air attack on Wednesday and will be closed, the US Department of State Consular Affairs said in a post on X.

It recommended US citizens to be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced.

Italy, Spain and Greece followed the US in closing their Kyiv embassies over attack fears. The US embassy said it had received “specific information” of a potential significant air attack and would be closed.

The UK embassy in Kyiv remained open, while Germany’s embassy remained open in a limited capacity.

US defence secretary confirms Ukraine given permission to use land mines

The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, has confirmed that the Biden administration will allow Ukraine to use American-supplied antipersonnel land mines to help fight off Russian forces.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday during a trip to Laos, Associated Press reported that the shift in policy follows changing tactics by the Russians.

Austin said Russian ground troops are leading the movement on the battlefield, rather than forces more protected in armoured carriers, so Ukraine has “a need for things that can help slow down that effort on the part of the Russians.”

“The land mines that we would look to provide them would be land mines that are not persistent, you know, we can control when they would self-activate, self-detonate and that makes it, you know, far more, safer eventually than the things that they are creating on their own,” Austin said.

The US’s move to allow Ukraine to use American supplied anti-personnel land mines comes despite the weapons being banned by scores of countries, including the UK.

Downing Street would not be drawn on the US and Ukrainian positions on the use of the weapons but added in “terms of the UK’s position and the support that it provides, it’s in line with the Ottawa Convention” which bans land mines.