Topline
The U.S. State Department on Sunday ordered the families of American diplomats and embassy personnel in Ukraine to leave the country, amid mounting fears of a Russian invasion.
An Aerial view of the U.S. Embassy in Kiev.
Key Facts
According to a press statement put out by the State Department, non-essential staffers at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv were told they could also leave Ukraine at the government’s expense.
State Department officials noted that the embassy will continue to operate without interruption and the exit of families and non-essential staffers is not an evacuation.
The statement added that the move does not change the U.S. government’s commitment to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and Washington will continue to provide assistance to Kyiv.
The State Department did not say how many Americans it believes are currently in Ukraine, noting that U.S. citizens are not required to register with embassies.
The statement, however, warned that the U.S. government will not be in a position to evacuate U.S. citizens from Ukraine if Russia decides to invade the country and asked them to plan accordingly.
Crucial Quote
“We continue to pursue the path of diplomacy. But if Russia chooses further escalation, then the security conditions…are unpredictable and can deteriorate with little notice. We are taking this action now because of Russia’s aggressive actions towards Ukraine,” a State Department’s statement added.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/01/23/state-department-orders-families-of-us-embassy-staff-in-ukraine-to-leave-country/