US not removing diplomats from Kyiv amid Russian threats, Rubio says

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on October 5 that Washington has no plans to remove its diplomats from Kyiv despite ongoing Russian attacks and threats to foreign diplomats. Rubio emphasized that the U.S. will decide on the safety of diplomats on a case-by-case basis. If a threat requires a change in posture, the U.S. will take appropriate action. However, up to this point, no such decision has been made.

Days earlier, on October 2, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry confirmed that no foreign diplomatic missions have notified Kyiv of intentions to relocate. According to the Ukrainian spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, if any missions plan to relocate, they are required to inform Kyiv as per established protocol.

Rubio also noted that Russia has been issuing similar warnings to foreign diplomats for months, and the attacks on Kyiv are not a new threat. He reiterated that Russia has been warning diplomats to leave for months, which he believes is well understood. Rubio added that the U.S. continuously analyzes the safety of diplomatic missions worldwide every day.

Russian attacks have continued unabated against Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine, with a drone strike on the Northern Bridge across the Dnipro River on October 4 injuring two people. This marked the fourth consecutive day of Russian attacks targeting key bridges, including the Southern Bridge. On October 5, Russian drone debris fell into a residential area in Kyiv's Pecherskyi district after air defenses neutralized it.