The UK and Australia said they have begun withdrawing some embassy personnel from Ukraine, while Germany offered assistance to staff members’ families and some civilians who want to leave.
The precautionary measures come as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that “gloomy” intelligence suggested Russia was planning a lightning raid on Kyiv.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) said on Jan. 24 that it had started pulling out some embassy staff and family members in response to the “growing threat from Russia.”
It also advised against all travel to three contested border regions and all but essential travel to the rest of Ukraine.
Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops on its border with Ukraine. The FCDO said the “pattern of Russian military build-ups near Ukraine’s eastern border and in illegally annexed Crimea” started in late March 2021, and there is “continuing uncertainty about Russian intentions.”
The FCDO advised against all travel to Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk Oblast on Ukraine’s eastern border and Russian-annexed-Crimea. It also advised against nonessential travel to the rest of Ukraine, where the situation is now “generally calm,” in case of a fast-moving escalation of events.
Those who need to travel are told to keep their departure plans “under close review” and monitor the situation regularly.
“Renewed military action anywhere in Ukraine would greatly reduce British Embassy Kyiv’s ability to provide consular support,” the FCDO warned.
Australia: ‘Leave Now’
The Australian government has also begun withdrawing dependents of Australian Embassy staff from Kyiv, it said on Jan. 24 in a travel advice update.The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told Australian citizens in Ukraine to “leave now” by commercial means if it’s safe to do so, and told others “do not travel” to the country “due to the risk of armed conflict.”
DFAT warned that flight availability could change or be suspended at short notice, and urged Australian citizens in Ukraine to register their whereabouts through a newly opened portal.
German officials on Jan. 24 offered help to assist family members of embassy staff and employees of German organizations who wish to leave Ukraine.
The EU’s High Representative Josep Borrell said on Jan. 24 that it doesn’t plan to “do the same thing because we don’t know any specific reasons.”
Following the U.S. announcement on Jan. 23 that it was withdrawing embassy staff’s family members, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said the move was “premature and a display of excessive caution.”
The Russian Parliament is due to vote on a proposal by members of Russia’s communist party asking the Kremlin to recognize the independence of the contested Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
If backed by the Kremlin, which has been cautious about the proposal, the move could see an escalation in regional tensions, but Russia would meet with punitive economic sanctions.
Meanwhile, Western countries are ramping up support to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, officials from DFAT are in discussion with their Ukrainian counterparts about providing cyber assistance.
Russia on Sunday dismissed the UK’s claims that Moscow was planning to install a pro-Russia leader in Kyiv, calling it “very dangerous” and “foolish rhetorical provocations.”
