Russian attack on Kyiv damages embassies of Portugal and several other countries

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal has summoned Russia's chargé d'affaires in Lisbon after the Portuguese embassy in Kyiv was damaged during a Russian missile attack on the morning of 20 December.

According to Portuguese broadcaster RTP, Paulo Rangel, Portugalian Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasised that the attack on the embassy warranted a strong diplomatic response.

The damage to the Portuguese embassy was minor, including broken windows and deformed doors, with no reported casualties.

Other embassies affected by the strike include those of Argentina, Albania and Montenegro. The Portuguese foreign minister said that multiple diplomatic facilities are located within the same building.

Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that embassies of Albania, Argentina, Palestine, North Macedonia, Portugal and Montenegro sustained damage.

"Windows, doors and parts of the ceilings in the premises were destroyed. These barbaric attacks on diplomatic missions cross all conceivable red lines and violate international norms," Tykhyi said.

"This deserves the harshest condemnation. Any Russian attack on Ukraine or Kyiv is unacceptable. However, it is absolutely unacceptable when such attacks affect diplomatic facilities," Portuguese foreign minister stated.

The Russian chargé d'affaires in Lisbon was summoned to the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to receive an official protest, as the Russian ambassador was not in Lisbon. 

Rangel added that "under no circumstances should diplomatic missions be targeted, according to international diplomatic rules".

The foreign minister stated that the embassy’s security had always been reinforced, noting that staff had sometimes refrained from working onsite due to safety concerns.

"This is part of a scenario that obviously involves risks, particularly personal risks. In any case, it is clear that under no circumstances should there be any impact, let alone a targeted attack, on any diplomatic mission in any country," Rangel added.

Currently, this is "the position of the Portuguese Republic regarding the Russian Federation; further steps will be taken at another level a bit later," he explained when asked about the European Union's stance.

During the Russian missile and drone attack in the early hours of 20 December, Ukraine's air defence intercepted five ballistic missiles headed for Kyiv and 40 drones in eight oblasts. Another twenty drones failed to hit their targets.

US Ambassador Bridget Brink condemned the attack and reaffirmed that the US, along with its partners, is enhancing security assistance to Ukraine. 

Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also criticised the attack, stating that it demonstrated Russia’s lack of interest in peace.