US embassy in Kyiv urgently evacuated ahead of ‘huge Russian revenge strike’ as Kremlin makes chilling warning to West

US embassy in Kyiv urgently evacuated ahead of ‘huge Russian revenge strike’ as Kremlin makes chilling warning to West

Imogen Braddick

THE US embassy in Kyiv has shut as Ukraine braces for a huge Russian revenge strike.

It comes a day after Ukraine used US-supplied ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory for the first time - and Moscow warned it would "react accordingly".

The US embassy said it has received "specific" intel about a "potential significant air attack". 

It said: "Out of an abundance of caution, the embassy will be closed, and embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place."

In an unusual warning, the embassy told US citizens to "be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced".

The UK government is also watching the security situation for Brits in Kyiv "incredibly closely" - but the embassy in the capital remains open.

Science Secretary Peter Kyle told Times Radio: "We have very good relationships with the government in Kyiv and with the United States. 

"We will do everything we can to keep British citizens safe.

"But there's just been no doubt this conflict has gone on for over 1,000 days now. It was caused by the illegal, unwarranted and unprovoked attack by Vladimir Putin."

Both Spain and Greece have shut their embassies - telling citizens to "take extreme security measures" due to "increased risk of air strikesthroughout Ukraine".

Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that Moscow will respond to Ukraine's strikes with US-made weapons deep into Russia.

In September, he said it would "mean that Nato countries are at war with Russia".

And just days after the US approved Ukrainian use of its far-reaching rockets, Vlad signed a new doctrine to lower the bar for launching a nuclear strike.

Almost simultaneously, Ukrainian media reported the first use of the ATACMS missiles on Russian territory.

Ukraine’s military did not comment on the use of the weapons - but took responsibility for a blaze at a weapons depot in the city of Karachev, Bryansk, 70 miles over the border.

The Kremlin claimed Ukraine had fired six ATACMS - claiming they caused no serious damage.

It said it marked the crossing of a red line - officially putting nuclear retaliation on the table.

On Wednesday, Ukraine confirmed Russia is preparing a "series of attacks". 

Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian Security Council's Centre for Countering Disinformation, said: "Let me remind you that the Russians have been stockpiling missiles for a series of attacks on Ukraine for months. 

"This includes Kh-101 missiles, which they continue to produce, as well as Kalibrs and ballistics."

As tensions skyrocket, the Kremlin said on Wednesday that a special hotline in place to deal with crises between Moscow and Washington was not currently being used.

The hotline was set up in 1963 after the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 to allow direct communication between US and Russian leaders when the two Cold War superpowers came close to nuclear war.

Putin was left raging when US President Joe Biden finally approved use of the far-reaching rockets by Ukraine on Sunday.

His foreign minister Sergei Lavrov warned that Moscow would "react accordingly" after Ukraine's use of US-made missiles over the border.

He described the strike as a signal that Kyiv "wanted to escalate".

And Russia's foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin said attempts by Nato countries to help Ukraine strike deep inside Russia "would not go unpunished", RIA news agency reports.

Meanwhile, Putin puppet Dmitry Medvedev said it meant "World War Three".

Russia has issued countless similar threats in the past - invoking fears of possible nuclear escalation in the West.

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