Kiev, 20 November 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The United States on Wednesday closed its embassy in Kiev amid concerns over a potential Russian attack.

The embassy said it "has received specific information of a potential significant air attack on November 20."

"Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy will be closed, and Embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place," the message said.

The embassy recommended US citizens in Kiev "be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced."

The Spanish, Italian and Greek embassies in the Ukrainian capital also announced that they would close to the public.

Ukrainian broadcasters reported, citing diplomatic sources, that a major attack with combat drones and ballistic missiles was expected.

The warnings come after Kiev on Tuesday marked the 1,000th day since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, and as Washington moved to let Ukraine use ATACMS missiles against targets inside Russian territory.

According to US media reports, outgoing President Joe Biden has expanded permission for Kiev to hit targets in Russia in response to the deployment of North Korean soldiers on Moscow's side.

Russia has said it views the move as an escalation and an entanglement of the United States and other Western countries in the war.

The US embassy regularly issues warnings of major air strikes, including in March and August this year, but the closure represents an exceptional measure.

Seoul: Pyongyang supplying Russia with up to 15,000 troops, artillery

Also on Wednesday, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that North Korea is supplying Russia with up to 15,000 soldiers, as well as heavy artillery and ammunition.

Citing the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in Seoul, Yonhap said officials believe that between 12,000 and 15,000 North Korean troops have been assigned to the Russian military and that some have already been deployed against Ukrainian forces.

Yonhap also said that Pyongyang had provided Russia with heavy artillery including self-propelled howitzers and rocket launchers, confirming a report by the Financial Times on Saturday.

The UK-based newspaper said some 50 M1989 Koksan self-propelled howitzers and almost 20 multiple rocket launchers produced in North Korea have arrived in Russia in recent weeks.

The US State Department recently claimed that thousands of North Korean soldiers are actively fighting alongside Russian forces in the border region near Kursk, where they are engaged against Ukrainian troops.

Military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has increased this year with a mutual defence pact.