Russia’s Foreign Ministry urged foreign nationals and diplomats to leave Kyiv on October 3 as it announced further strikes on Ukrainian cities. The warning came amid attacks on bridges that disrupted travel in the Ukrainian capital. The European Union said its representation would continue operating without change.

Moscow says strikes will continue

The Russian ministry said its forces would continue attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. It presented the strikes as a response to alleged Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The ministry said people who ignored its warning would bear responsibility for any adverse consequences. It also warned that those remaining were knowingly exposing themselves to mortal danger.

EU and US missions remain open

Christian Wigand, a European Commission spokesperson, said the EU representation in Kyiv would keep working despite Moscow’s warning. He said the bloc would continue supporting Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry had received no notifications about plans to relocate foreign diplomatic missions, spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said. The U.S. Department of State also said the American embassy in Kyiv remained open, staffed and operational.

The Guardian reported that some Western embassies had prepared contingency plans to move staff if Russia deliberately attacked diplomatic missions. Possible destinations included Lviv, in western Ukraine, or Poland. The report cited two senior Western diplomats.

Whether any foreign mission has decided to move staff remains unclear. Tykhyi said diplomatic missions were required to notify Ukraine before relocating.

Wigand also said the EU was preparing its largest-ever sanctions package against Russia. He said the bloc had introduced new restrictions that week over the deportation of Ukrainian children.

Bridge attacks disrupt travel in Kyiv

A news report said a Russian drone struck Kyiv’s North Bridge on the morning of October 3. The attack damaged the road surface and trolleybus wires, disrupting traffic across the crossing.

A separate report described four impacts on the Southern Bridge between October 1 and October 2. It reported damage to support structures and protective structures for the metro. Police now close the Southern Bridge completely during air-raid alerts, according to that report.