U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. has no current plans to evacuate its embassy in Kyiv, despite ongoing Russian warnings for foreign diplomats to leave the city.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on October 5 that the United States does not currently plan to remove its diplomatic staff from Kyiv. Speaking at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Rubio noted that the U.S. continuously evaluates the safety of all its missions worldwide. While Russia has issued warnings for foreign diplomats to depart the Ukrainian capital, the U.S. maintains its embassy presence as it has not yet identified a need to change its security posture.

Ongoing Security Assessments

Rubio characterized the recent Russian warnings as consistent with rhetoric used for several months, stating that the ongoing attacks on Kyiv are well understood by the international community. He emphasized that the State Department monitors the safety of every diplomatic mission daily and will adjust operations only if specific threats necessitate a change in posture.

Diplomatic Status in Ukraine

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, stated on October 2 that no foreign diplomatic missions had notified Kyiv of plans to relocate. Additionally, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová confirmed that all embassies of European Union member states remain operational in the city. The European Commission reiterated its commitment to supporting Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia in response to the threats.

Recent Attacks on Kyiv

Russian forces have continued to target Kyiv with drone strikes. On October 4, a drone strike on the Northern Bridge injured two people, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. This followed a series of attacks targeting key infrastructure, including the Southern Bridge. On October 5, air defenses intercepted a drone, causing debris to fall in the Pecherskyi district.