Moscow again urged diplomats and foreign nationals in Kyiv to leave the city, warning that its forces will continue to carry out “massive retaliatory strikes” against the Ukrainian capital. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it had “reiterated” to the diplomatic corps the warning inviting “foreign citizens and diplomats present in Kyiv to leave the city,” according to the latest news on Saturday, October 3.

“The responsibility for any negative consequences lies entirely with those who ignore this warning,” the ministry added, stressing that “the Russian armed forces will continue to carry out massive retaliatory strikes” against “military targets in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.”

Another bridge under attack

Kyiv has been particularly targeted in recent weeks. A Russian strike hit a major city bridge, Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced, after Russian drones in recent days targeted the South Bridge, forcing its closure and adding to traffic chaos in the capital. “The North Bridge has been hit,” the mayor said on Telegram. Emergency services are on site.

Kyiv is in an “extremely dramatic situation” due to intensified Russian bombardments, which are hitting key infrastructure and causing traffic disruption, Mayor Klitschko said yesterday, adding that “it is no longer possible to pretend we can live as in peacetime. The enemy is destroying Kyiv.”

Zelensky: “Absurd Russian escalation”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced what he called an “absurd escalation” by Russia and claimed new Ukrainian strikes on targets linked to Moscow’s “war machine” in response to the raids.

In a social media post, Zelensky said that overnight Russian forces struck residential buildings, railways and energy infrastructure in several regions of Ukraine. This morning, he added, a Shahed drone hit the Pivnichnyi bridge in Kyiv, while another drone struck a ship in Chornomorsk.

“Our long-range capabilities have effectively struck targets serving the aggressor’s war machine,” Zelensky wrote, confirming strikes in the Samara region and against Russian positions operating Iskander missile systems in the Bryansk region. The Ukrainian president also mentioned “new results” in the Black Sea, without providing further details.

Moldova: “Russian missiles and drones violated our airspace, ambassador summoned”

Meanwhile, Moldova warns that Russian drones and missiles have violated Moldovan airspace. The report comes from President Maia Sandu: five Russian airborne attack weapons, including “Banderol” missiles and drones, entered the country’s airspace and exploded on its territory, she wrote on X. “Moscow is putting human lives at risk across Europe and must be stopped,” Sandu added. The Moldovan army reported explosions heard in several locations in the southeastern part of Moldova. No casualties or damage have been reported. A local air alert was also issued in the nearby Odessa area in southern Ukraine. Russian missiles and drones have violated Moldovan airspace on multiple occasions. Following the latest incursions, Moldova summoned the Russian ambassador. It is the second time in a few days that Chișinău has summoned the Russian representative.

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