EU Council Chief Costa Shelters in Kyiv Hotel During Air Raid
- European Council President António Costa sheltered in an underground garage at Kyiv's InterContinental Hotel after air raid sirens sounded on Monday night.
- The alert warned of possible ballistic missiles launched from the Russian city of Taganrog, though no strike was confirmed at the time.
- The incident highlights that Russian aerial threats to Kyiv continue regardless of the presence of senior European officials in the city.
António Costa, President of the European Council, was forced to take shelter at the InterContinental Hotel in Kyiv on Monday night after air raid sirens sounded, warning of a possible Russian ballistic missile attack. Costa was among the hotel's guests who hurried to the building's underground garage as the alert was raised.
Threat reportedly originating from Taganrog
The alarm was triggered by warnings of possible ballistic missiles launched from the Russian city of Taganrog. Whether any missiles were ultimately fired, or reached their intended target, was not confirmed in the immediate aftermath of the alert. The situation remained unresolved as guests sheltered in the hotel garage as a precautionary measure.
High-profile visit shadowed by aerial threat
The incident illustrates that Russian aerial pressure on Kyiv does not abate during visits by senior European officials. Costa's presence in the Ukrainian capital placed him directly in the path of the same threat faced by Kyiv's residents, who have endured repeated missile and drone strikes in recent months. The episode serves as a pointed reminder that diplomatic engagement with Ukraine carries real and immediate physical risk, with previous Russian strikes on the capital having caused fatalities and provoked wider security concerns across the continent.
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