The US Embassy in Kiev said there was a heightened risk of Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine in the coming days as the country prepares to mark 33 years of independence from the Soviet Union on Saturday, reports "Reuters".
Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said earlier this week that Russia has fired 9,600 missiles and 14,000 drones at Ukraine since it launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
"The US Embassy in Kyiv assesses that over the next few days and over the weekend there is an increased risk of... Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine in connection with Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24,'' it said. in the message.
The statement was posted on the embassy's website late Wednesday.
For Ukrainians, Independence Day took on greater significance after the Russian invasion, which awakened patriotic feelings among many people.
This year, the date falls more than two weeks after Ukraine launched a surprise cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk region, even as Russian troops steadily advance in eastern Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would give a "worthy response" of the invasion, which he described as a major provocation.