US Embassy urges Americans to consider departing Ukraine

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv on Wednesday urged Americans to consider leaving Ukraine amid rising tensions with Russia, following a similar advisory earlier this week. 

“The security situation in Ukraine continues to be unpredictable due to the increased threat of Russian military action and can deteriorate with little notice. The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens in Ukraine to consider departing now using commercial or other privately available transportation options,” the embassy said. 

The embassy said it remained open and could offer repatriation loans to Americans who could not afford to fly out of the country. 

The message follows an advisory from the embassy earlier this week, in which it also urged Americans to consider leaving the country. The embassy noted that U.S. direct hire employees and eligible family members had been authorized to voluntarily depart the country by the State Department. 

“There are reports Russia is planning significant military action against Ukraine. The security conditions, particularly along Ukraine’s borders, in Russia-occupied Crimea, and in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine, are unpredictable and can deteriorate with little notice.  Demonstrations, which have turned violent at times, regularly occur throughout Ukraine, including in Kyiv,” the embassy said at the time.

The announcement underscores the increased tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with tens of thousands of Russian troops already amassed at the border between the two countries. The international community remains concerned that Russia is readying itself to invade Ukraine. 

The third shipment of a $200 million lethal aid package approved by the Biden administration, containing grenade launchers and Javelin anti-tank missiles, was delivered in Kyiv on Tuesday. 

President Biden said on the same day that he had no intention of moving U.S. forces into Ukraine, but also emphasized that there would be consequences if there was Russian military movement into the country.

“We have no intention of putting American forces or NATO forces in Ukraine.  But we — as I said, there are going to be serious economic consequences if he moves,” Biden said.