Brussels, May 26: Following warnings of intensified attacks on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, the European Union summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires on Tuesday. This decision comes after Russia urged foreign nationals and diplomats to evacuate the city. Anita Hipper, spokesperson for the European Commission’s foreign affairs, confirmed the development during her daily briefing.
Hipper stated that the scale of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is unacceptable. According to a report by the Xinhua news agency, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that following a Ukrainian drone strike in the Luhansk region’s Starobilsk, the Russian military has been systematically targeting Ukrainian military-industrial sites in Kyiv.
Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova reported that the attack on Starobilsk College resulted in 21 fatalities and over 60 injuries. At the time of the attack, 86 children aged between 14 and 18 were present at the college.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has also urged foreign citizens to leave Kyiv as soon as possible and advised locals to avoid military and government infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital, including diplomatic personnel and international organization staff.
Hipper emphasized that the EU will maintain its presence and operations in Kyiv. She stated, “We will continue to support Ukraine, which requires air defense and further financial assistance.”
Additionally, Hipper mentioned that EU foreign ministers will hold an informal meeting in Cyprus in the coming days to discuss ways to increase international pressure on Russia.
On the same day, Norway’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolai Viktorovich Korchunov for discussions. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated in a release, “We summoned the ambassador to protest against the recent threats made by Russia towards foreign individuals in Ukraine.”
On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed it had targeted Ukrainian defense industries, military infrastructure, and the command posts of Ukraine’s Ground Forces and Main Intelligence Directorate. They asserted, “No attacks against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure were planned or executed.”
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