Against the backdrop of the escalating situation in Kyiv and increasing attacks by Russian military forces, the safety of American diplomats has become a key issue on the international agenda. However, according to recent statements by the US Department of State, there are currently no plans to evacuate the embassy from the Ukrainian capital.
Official position of Washington
This was stated by Ian Baetson, the official Russian-speaking spokesperson for the US Department of State, in an interview with RBK-Ukraine. During the conversation, he was asked a direct question: could the US fully or partially evacuate its embassy from Kyiv in light of the intensifying shelling by Russia?
The answer was unequivocal: "The safety of our diplomats, of course, is a very important topic. As far as I know, there are no such plans at the moment. But we are thinking a lot about our colleagues who are working in Kyiv".
Diplomats determine the safe work format themselves
Baetson emphasized that the presence of American diplomats in Kyiv remains important for carrying out their mission. At the same time, the final decision on how exactly they will work — taking into account current threats — is made by the embassy staff themselves.
"The work is very important, but they, of course, will decide how to work, what will be safe," the State Department representative summarized.
Context: escalation of attacks on Kyiv
The decision to maintain the embassy's operations comes against the backdrop of a significant increase in the intensity of Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital. In recent weeks, the occupiers have increasingly used drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic projectiles to attack the city.
Thus, on the morning of July 8, Russia attempted to attack Kyiv with drones. As a result of the shelling, a high-rise building was damaged, and drones also fell on non-residential buildings. On the night of July 8, the enemy struck with ballistic missiles — explosions were heard even before the air raid alarm was announced.
The consequences of the night attack were recorded in two districts of the city: warehouses were burning in Desnyanskyi, and a non-residential building was damaged in Sviatoshynskyi.
Significance of the embassy's presence
Despite the risks, the American side emphasizes the importance of the physical presence of diplomats in Kyiv. This symbolizes support for Ukraine and the readiness to continue working even in wartime conditions. At the same time, the safety of personnel remains a priority — and it is the embassy staff who assess what measures are necessary to ensure their working conditions.
