The United States on Sunday ordered the families of diplomats from its embassy in Ukraine to leave the country in the face of the “continued threat of military action by Russia,” the State Department said.
The United States orders the exit of its citizens from Ukraine
Through a statement, all Americans in Ukraine have been advised to leave the country.
Non-essential personnel can leave the embassy if they wish, and U.S. citizens residing in Ukraine “should consider now” leaving the country by commercial flights or other means of transportation, the U.S.
State Department has warned.
“The security situation, especially along Ukraine’s borders, in Russian-occupied Crimea and Russian-controlled Donetsk, is unpredictable and could deteriorate at any time,” the statement added.
“U.S. citizens in Ukraine should be aware that a Russian military operation anywhere in Ukraine would severely impact the U.S. Embassy to provide consular services, including assistance to U.S. citizens departing Ukraine,” the State Department has warned.
UK begins to withdraw some of its embassy staff in Kiev
The UK Government has announced on Monday the beginning of the withdrawal of some of its Embassy staff in the Ukrainian capital Kiev in the face of the “growing threat” from Russia and increased tensions on the border in recent weeks.
“Some Embassy staff and their families are being withdrawn from Kiev in response to the growing threat from Russia. The British Embassy remains open and will continue to carry out essential work,” the UK Foreign Office has indicated through a travel alert.
The alert, updated on Monday, stresses that “we advise against all travel to Donetsk, Lugansk and Crimea provinces” and avoid all “non-essential” travel to the rest of the European country.
