Russia and Ukraine exchanged accusations over overnight drone and missile attacks on Monday as Moscow warned foreign citizens and diplomats to leave Kiev ahead of what it described as planned strikes on the Ukrainian capital’s “decision-making centres.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that future strikes would target both “decision-making centres and command posts,” urging foreign nationals, including diplomatic personnel and international organisations, to leave Kiev “as soon as possible.”

The warning came after Russian authorities said six people were killed in Ukrainian attacks overnight across several regions.

In the Bryansk region, acting Governor Yegor Kovalchuk said one person was killed and another injured in an artillery strike on the village of Belaya Beryozka. Several apartment buildings, houses and public facilities were also damaged.

Escalating drone war

In the Russia-controlled section of the Donetsk region, four people, including two minors, were killed in a Ukrainian drone strike, according to Russia-installed Mayor Ivan Gorlovkin.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defence systems intercepted 173 drones over 14 regions, including annexed Crimea.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s General Staff accused Russia of launching 262 drones overnight, saying 246 had been intercepted or suppressed.

Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv region military administration, said Russian forces conducted drone strikes on Kharkiv and 21 settlements across the region over the past 24 hours, injuring 18 people, including a child.

In the Sumy region, one person was killed and four others injured in Russian attacks over the same period, regional Governor Oleh Hryhorov said.

Independent verification of claims made by either side remains difficult because of the ongoing war.