You're reading: Ukraine says blast near US embassy in Kyiv was terrorism, US disagrees

A small explosion that occurred on the lawn of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine in Kyiv overnight on June 8 has been classified as a terrorist attack by Ukraine’s National Police.

But U.S. Embassy staff played down the incident, saying it wasn’t serious.

“It was a small explosive device. The blast didn’t harm the embassy’s property. Nobody from the staff suffered injuries. The embassy is operating as usual,” read a message published on the U.S. Embassy’s Facebook page on June 8.

Meanwhile, the National Police of Ukraine’s press service said the police considered the blast near the U.S. Embassy in Shevchenkivsky District of Kyiv to be a terror attack.

The police said that at midnight on June 8 an unknown person threw an explosive device into the territory of the embassy. No one was hurt.

Mariana Betsa, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, tweeted on June 8, that Ukraine condemned the “terror attack.”

“Security measures have been enhanced in the embassy.  The police are already investigating the case,” Betsa wrote.

The embassy said it was cooperating with the police investigation.

An unknow explosive device, police found in the territory of U.S embassy in Kyiv on June 8. (Courtesy from National Police website)

An unknown explosive device, police found in the territory of U.S embassy in Kyiv on June 8. (Courtesy of National Police website)