Russia has warned that it will continue what it describes as targeted retaliatory strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, while urging foreign nationals and diplomatic personnel to leave Ukraine as fighting intensifies.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said its military would continue carrying out strikes on what it described as military facilities in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Moscow framed the attacks as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes against Russian civilians and infrastructure.

The warning came amid a fresh escalation in Russian attacks on infrastructure in Kyiv. A major bridge over the Dnipro River was damaged in a Russian air attack, disrupting traffic in the capital. Ukrainian officials have reported increasing pressure on critical infrastructure as winter approaches.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry also warned foreign nationals, including diplomatic staff, against remaining in or traveling to Ukraine, saying those who ignored the warning would bear responsibility for any consequences.

Ukraine has rejected Moscow’s justification for the strikes and signaled that it would respond by increasing attacks on Russian oil infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine would focus on Russian refineries while maintaining that civilians should not be targeted.

Zelenskyy has also accused Russia of preparing a broader campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure during the winter. Ukrainian officials say their intelligence has identified indications of an expanded Russian military strategy, although claims about the scope and intent of any such doctrine remain disputed.

The escalation comes as diplomatic efforts continue alongside the fighting.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha recently said Kyiv had received four proposals for a possible ceasefire from India, the United States, Türkiye and Egypt. He described India’s proposal as the broadest of the four and said Ukraine was prepared to consider a ceasefire covering energy infrastructure and the Black Sea.

Kyiv has indicated that any limited truce should address more than battlefield operations. Ukraine wants an agreement covering attacks on energy and port infrastructure as well as activity in the Black Sea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to promote a settlement, saying Modi has offered ideas aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict.

The latest escalation highlights the difficult balance between military retaliation and diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities. While strikes continue to disrupt life in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, proposals for limited ceasefires remain under discussion.

With winter approaching, the security of energy infrastructure, civilian populations and vital transport routes is likely to remain a central concern. The immediate challenge for both sides is whether limited agreements can be reached even as broader disagreements over the war remain unresolved.