Zelensky on embassy closures in Kyiv: "Russia on the 1001st day of war is just as insane as it was on the first."

Several European countries, as well as the USA and Canada, announced on Wednesday, November 20, the suspension of their embassy operations in Kyiv.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, in an evening address, pointed out that the panic messages that have “spread” only benefit Russia.

“Today there were many nerves and questions about some specific danger,” Zelensky noted in his address. “Although during this time we have already experienced so many brutal and insidious attacks from Russia... Warnings about air raids should always be taken seriously. We have such a neighbor – a madman. Today, on the 1001st day of the full-scale war, Russia is just as mad as it was on the 1000th day and on February 24.”

“The information frenzy that occurred today, the panic messages – all of this benefits only Russia,” he emphasized.

Additionally, on the evening of November 20, a press release was published on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, stating that the American diplomatic mission “temporarily changed its working mode on November 20 due to reports of a high likelihood of an air attack.”

“The embassy remains open and continues to operate,” the statement emphasizes.

On the Canadian government website, it is stated that the country's embassy in Kyiv has temporarily suspended in-person services “due to the security situation.”

Portugal, Spain, Greece, and Italy also reported a temporary suspension of operations in the capital of Ukraine on November 20. The website of the German Foreign Ministry indicates that the German embassy in Kyiv is conducting consular work in a limited capacity.

The Polish embassy reported that it continues to operate while adhering to all safety norms.

EU diplomatic representative Peter Stano stated at a briefing: “We do not comment on the precautionary measures taken by the embassies on the ground. These are actions that fall within the national competence of the member states. They make such decisions based on the information they have at their disposal locally.”

“We, on our part, have not given any instructions regarding precautionary measures. In any case, we are fully aware of the conditions in Ukraine that pose risks. We know the environment in which we operate, and the EU delegation is prepared to work under these conditions,” Stano told reporters, as quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

As the dpa agency reports, many in Ukraine are growing concerned that Russia may escalate the war after media reports indicated that Ukraine used long-range Western weapons against targets on Russian territory.

At the same time, journalists remind that Moscow conducted a massive missile strike on Kyiv on November 16 and 17 – before Ukraine allegedly attacked Russia with ATACMS missiles.

Background. On November 20, Bloomberg reported, citing an anonymous Western official, that the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck Russian territory for the first time using British-French Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG missiles. The strike was also reported by Russian pro-war bloggers. According to their information, between 10 to 12 missiles targeted the village of Maryino in the Kursk region.

According to unverified information from social networks, there is a command post of the Russian Armed Forces there, where both Russian military leadership and North Korean personnel could have been present.