KL cops: Situation near Russian, Ukrainian embassies remain under control

A view shows an apartment building damaged by recent shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine February 26, 2022. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

KUALA LUMPUR: The situation near the Russian and Ukrainian embassies in the city remain under control on Saturday (Feb 26).

Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim said the police have increased patrols near both locations to ensure that nothing untoward occurs.

"We are monitoring the situation at both locations closely.

"Everything is under control with no unwanted incident occurring," he said when contacted on Saturday.

While there was a protest by a group of people in front of the Russian embassy on Friday (Feb 25), it was dispersed not long after it started.

"We advise all parties to refrain from gathering or resorting to anything that is against the law.

"We will take stern action," he said.

On Friday (Feb 25), several Ukrainians gathered outside the Russian embassy on Jalan Ampang here to protest Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

There was a large presence of police in the area near the embassy, due to security concerns following the latest developments of the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

A small gathering of Ukrainian demonstrators gathered there to voice out their protest towards the acts of the Russian government.

Comm Azmi had previously said patrols near both embassies have been boosted following the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

"We have stepped up patrols in both areas since about two weeks ago," he said.

On Thursday (Feb 24), Russia launched wide-ranging attacks on Ukraine, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes and artillery, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.

Ukraine's government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border in a "full-scale war" that could rewrite the geopolitical order and whose fallout had already reverberated around the world.

In unleashing Moscow's most aggressive action since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, president Vladimir Putin deflected global condemnation and increased sanctions, and made references to his country’s nuclear arsenal.

He threatened any country attempting to interfere with "consequences you have never seen."