The United States has warned nationals in Russia will carry out an evacuation plan citing the menace of attacks in Moscow amid lingering tensions with Ukraine.
“There were threats of attacks against shopping malls, train and metro stations, and others public gathering places in major urban areas, including Moscow and St. Petersburg as well as in areas of increased tension along the Russian border with Ukraine,” the embassy said.
“Review your personal security plans“, said the embassy. “Evacuate plans that don’t count on we government assistance.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wondered if the United States had spent on the information on possible attacks on Russia.
“And otherwise, how East one to understand everything of that?” Zakharova said.
On Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that Russia was on the edge of invade Ukraine.
Russia extended military exercises near Ukraine’s northern borders on Sunday amid heightened fears that two days of sustained shelling along the line of contact between soldiers and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine could trigger a invasion. Ukrainian President appealed for a ceasefirefire.
The exercises were originally set to finish on Sunday and brought a large contingent of Russian forces in Belarus. The presence of Russian troops feared they would be used to sweep down on the Ukrainian capital, Kyivune city of about 3 millions people less than three hours drive a way.
Western leaders have warned that Russia is about to attack son neighbor, who is surrounded on three sides by about 150,000 Russian soldierswar planes and equipment. Russia held nuclear drills as well as conventional drills on Saturday in Belarus, and has ongoing naval exercises off the side in the black Sea.
