Russia, which is negotiating with Washington on the New START nuclear treaty, parades a Yars RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile system through Red Square during a parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in June 2020
Russia, which is negotiating with Washington on the New START nuclear treaty, parades a Yars RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile system through Red Square during a parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in June 2020 AFP / Alexander NEMENOV

KEY POINTS

  • There will be a "heightened threat of missile strikes and other provocations" from Russia Wednesday, the Ukrainian government says
  • Ukrainian citizens are urged to be cautious that day, which is when Ukraine will observe its 31st Independence Day
  • Ukraine's capital Kyiv banned public celebrations commemorating the event this week over a heightened threat of attacks

Ukraine's government has warned citizens to be cautious when the country observes its Independence Day this week due to an expected increase in Russian threats.

Andriy Yusov, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense's Main Directorate of Intelligence, urged citizens to heed air alarms, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday.

There will be "a heightened threat of missile strikes and other provocations, both inside the country and abroad," from Russia Wednesday, which is when Ukraine will celebrate its 31st Independence Day, Yusov said during an address on national television.

"[The Russians] are really wrong about dates and symbols, so it would be quite logical to be on guard and be prepared for the fact that Independence Day will also be attacked. Ukraine is ready for this," said Yusov, representing the government of Ukraine.

"The fact that Russia still has a large number of missiles - albeit not high-precision ones - is true, they can cause a lot more trouble. It will not break either the spirit or the will to resist... and the course of the war," he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia may try "something particularly ugly" in the run-up to Wednesday, Reuters reported.

Russia "is stepping up efforts to launch strikes against Ukraine's civilian infrastructure and government facilities in the coming days," an unnamed U.S. official told the outlet.

Authorities in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, banned public events related to Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union between Monday and Thursday, citing a heightened threat of attacks.

Other areas in Ukraine have also restricted public gatherings.

Ihor Terekhov, the mayor of the besieged city of Kharkiv, announced an extension to an overnight curfew to run from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m. effective from Tuesday to Thursday.

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Meanwhile, authorities in the mostly Russian-occupied region of Mykolaiv planned a precautionary order for residents to work from home Tuesday and Wednesday. They also urged people not to gather in large groups, according to regional governor Vitaliy Kim.

Fears of intensified attacks rose after Russian authorities accused Ukrainian agents of killing Darya Dugina, the daughter of Russian ultra-nationalist Alexander Dugin, in a car bomb attack Saturday.

Children hold up a Ukrainian flag near Russian military equipment destroyed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine displayed, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Prague, Czech Republic, July 11, 2022.
Children hold up a Ukrainian flag near Russian military equipment destroyed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine displayed, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Prague, Czech Republic, July 11, 2022. Reuters / DAVID W CERNY