The Canadian Embassy in Kyiv temporarily suspended in-person services after U.S. officials warned about a “potential significant air attack.” The advisory urged citizens to seek shelter immediately if air raid alerts sound, highlighting the increasing tension in Ukraine as the war surpasses 1,000 days.
Several hours after the U.S. advisory, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency dismissed the threat as misinformation. In a message shared on Telegram, the agency urged citizens not to panic, saying, “Do not ignore air raid sirens — it is safer to wait in a shelter. However, we urge you not to succumb to panic.”
The agency accused Russia of spreading fake messages online about a “particularly massive” missile and bomb attack on Ukrainian cities, calling the claims a deliberate attempt to sow fear.
Other Embassies Close as Precaution
Kyiv’s Spanish, Italian, and Greek embassies have closed temporarily in response to the advisory.
The warnings come amid rising tensions in the region. On Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden authorised Ukraine to use American-supplied longer-range missiles to strike deeper into Russian territory. The same day, Moscow accused Ukraine of firing six of these missiles, known as ATACMS, into the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine and Belarus. Russian military officials claimed to have shot down five of the missiles, with the sixth causing some damage.
U.S. Policies Signal Escalation
Commenting on the new U.S. policies, military analyst Fraser noted that the decision to allow Ukraine to use longer-range missiles and antipersonnel land mines reflects the challenges Ukraine is facing in the ongoing war. “They’re not going to change the course of the war,” Fraser said, adding that the updates reveal “just how dour the Ukrainian situation is becoming.”
Despite Ukraine’s efforts to reclaim Russian-held territory, Russia retains control over vast areas in eastern Ukraine, while North Korean troops have reportedly joined Russian forces to support their operations.
Putin’s Nuclear Stance and Winter Strategy
Russian President Vladimir Putin has lowered the threshold for deploying nuclear weapons, potentially permitting their use in response to conventional attacks from nations allied with atomic powers. Fraser suggested that Russia might now focus on targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to “make Ukrainians feel the cold in the wintertime.”
As tensions escalate and misinformation campaigns intensify, the situation in Ukraine remains volatile, with both sides bracing for the harsh realities of a prolonged conflict.
