In a rare move, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv shut down operations today after officials “received information about a potential significant air attack on November 20,” the embassy announced. Several other Western embassies followed suit. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials say the country is being subjected to a large-scale Russian propaganda campaign using “fake” information about a potential attack to spread fear.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy will be closed, and Embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place,” the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv posted on its website Wednesday. “The U.S. Embassy recommends U.S. citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced.”
The announcement did not elaborate on the threat to Kyiv, which is frequently targeted by Russia and had just been hit by another volley of missiles and drones overnight.
In response to our questions seeking further details, the embassy told us the closure “is related to air alerts, including increased possible threat of combined attack from drones and missiles, as has happened recently. We continue to monitor the situation working with our Ukrainian partners.”
“This is a temporary change in posture, and we anticipate a quick return to regular operations,” the embassy told us. “We recommend all U.S. citizens follow instructions from local authorities regarding air alerts and immediately seek shelter when instructed. The Embassy will continue to provide updates via official U.S. Embassy social media platforms. ”
After the U.S. closed its embassy, Greece, Italy, and Spain followed suit.
“The American Embassy has shared information on its website about a possible high-intensity air strike today, November 20,” the Italian embassy posted on its website. “As a precaution, the Embassy in Kyiv will remain closed to the public today. The Embassy remains operational. In the event of an air raid alert, all Italian citizens present in the country are advised to follow the most stringent risk mitigation measures and immediately go to the nearest shelter.”
The closures come amid heightened tensions. On Tuesday, Ukraine used U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles for the first time against a target inside Russia. In response to the Biden administration’s approval of such attacks, a top Russian politician said that his nation could launch a weapon in retaliation that has never before been used. Adding to the concerns, a previously planned reduction in the threshold by which Russia said it would use its nuclear arsenal went into effect on Tuesday.
The closure is not related to “Russia’s announcement that it has lowered the threshold for a nuclear strike,” the embassy added. “The embassy closure is related to ongoing threats of air attacks. ”
Ukrainian officials suggested that the warnings are based on Russian propaganda efforts to sow fear.
“A terrorist country is conducting a massive information and psychological attack against Ukraine,” the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) stated on Telegram Wednesday. “A message about the threat of a ‘particularly massive’ rocket-bomb attack on Ukrainian cities today is being spread through messengers and social networks, allegedly on behalf of the GUR. This message is a fake, it contains grammatical errors typical for Russian information and psychological operations.”
GUR urged people to “trust information only from official resources and from the spokespersons of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The enemy, unable to subjugate Ukrainians by force, resorts to measures of intimidation and psychological pressure on society. Please be vigilant and persistent.”
Still, the threat of air strikes remains very real, GUR reminded.
“Do not ignore air raid signals – it is safer to wait in shelter,” GUR explained. “However, we urge you not to panic.”
The Russians are using the embassy closings to stoke fear, a top Ukrainian official suggested.
“In terms of information, now they are also trying to shake panicky moods against the background of the closing of embassies,” Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, said on Telegram Wednesday.
Ukraine has been well aware that Russia was planning future attacks and stockpiling munitions to hit the nation’s power and heating infrastructure ahead of winter, Kovalenko noted.
“The Russians prepared for shelling in the cold season – this is their tactic,” he posited. “Rockets were stockpiled, aviation and fleet were being prepared. Bet on cruise missiles and ballistics, as well as drones for the depletion of air defense. These plans are not unexpected, they are known and warned about.”
The Russians, he added, “have different types of missiles in their arsenal. And this is also known.”
To head off any panic, Kovalenko reminded Ukrainians that they had been through this before.
“After three years of large-scale, as well as now knowing about Russia’s presence of missiles and plans to attack Ukraine and infrastructure, Ukrainians already understand the situation – you need to plan your time and prepare safe places for yourself in case of alarm, calculate the route and the time it takes to reach these safe places can be reached,” he offered. “It is also important to follow official communications, in particular, from the Air Force.”
“As for the panic that they are trying to incite, I will clarify once again that Russia was preparing for shelling and this is part of the war,” Kovalenko said. “The plans of the Russians are known to the Defense Forces. There is and will be an antidote.”
Ukrainian offices are also closing and urging employees to work from home, another sign of how far the fake messaging has spread, argued Maria Drutska, a former Ukrainian defense official now working in the foreign affairs sector.
After the warnings were issued, residents in Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine braced for a new wave of attacks that have become routine.
On its Telegram channel, the Ukrainian Air Force said more Russian missiles, guided bombs and drones were on the way as of 11 a.m. Eastern time.
“WARNING,” the Ukrainian Air Force cautioned. “Air defense work is possible!”
Update: 3:59 PM Eastern –
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has resumed services following a temporary shelter-in-place suspension earlier today.
Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com