The United States suspended the work of the embassy in Ukraine and removed diplomats from the country

The State Department has updated Ukraine Travel Advisories. The US Embassy in Kiev will suspend its work, and all Americans were asked to leave the country as soon as possible. The United States fears a Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is stated on the site. US Embassy in Ukraine.

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Level 4: Don't travel

“Do not travel to Ukraine due to the increased threat of military action from Russia and the COVID-19 situation; Americans in Ukraine must leave immediately by commercial or private means. If you remain in Ukraine, exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and possible hostilities if Russia takes military action. Some areas have an increased risk,” the department said in a statement.

On February 12, 2022, the State Department ordered American staff members of the US Embassy in Ukraine to leave due to the further threat of military action from Russia.

Earlier, on January 23, 2022, the State Department authorized the voluntary departure of U.S. embassy staff and their families.

Effective Sunday, February 13, 2022, the United States will suspend consular services at the US Embassy in Kyiv. But there will be a small consular presence in Lviv to deal with emergencies. Passport, visa or regular consular services will not be provided.

On the subject: The US believes that Russia will invade Ukraine next week

Possible invasion

The diplomatic mission notes that there are constant reports of a Russian military buildup near the border with Ukraine, which indicates the possibility of significant military actions against Ukraine. Security conditions, especially along Ukraine's borders, in Russian-occupied Crimea and Russian-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine, are unpredictable and could deteriorate unexpectedly.

Crimea

Russia once annexed the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula, where there is now a significant military presence of the Russian Federation. The occupying authorities continue to harass and groundlessly arrest foreigners and the local population, especially those perceived to be opposed to the Russian occupation of the peninsula. The US government has banned its employees from entering Crimea and cannot provide emergency services to US citizens in Crimea.

Donetsk and Lugansk

Russian-led forces control parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions where the armed conflict continues. The US government has restricted travel to the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and adjacent regions due to the inability to provide emergency services to US citizens there.

In this region, crimes against foreigners are common, as well as crimes against property. Political assassinations and bombings take place here. There are reports of violent attacks on minority members and police officers by radical groups.

COVID-19

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 security alert for travel to Ukraine, which is a very high level of COVID-19 cases in the country. Your risk of contracting a coronavirus infection and the chance of developing severe symptoms are reduced if you are fully vaccinated with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved vaccine.

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If you are in Ukraine or planning to go there, you need to:

• read the information page of the Department of State Security about the country;
• learn about what the US government can and cannot do to help you during a crisis abroad;
• develop a non-U.S. government emergency plan;
• visit the high-risk area travel page;
• monitor information in the local media about emergency events and, based on such information, adjust their plans for emergency situations;
• make sure your travel documents are valid and you have easy access;
• view the US Embassy page on COVID-19;
• visit the CDC travel and COVID-19 website;
• get vaccinated against COVID-19 to make travel easier;
• Familiarize yourself with the COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements in all countries through which you are traveling to your destination;
• enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and facilitate location setting in an emergency;
• Follow the State Department's Facebook and Twitter pages;
• read the Report on Crime and Security in Ukraine;
• avoid demonstrations and crowds.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Russia put forward demands in connection with a new round of escalation around Ukraine and Vladimir Putin's talks with US President Joe Biden. The released statement said that Western countries should take back the promises made to Ukraine and Georgia in 2008 about the prospect of their accession to NATO.
• US Vice President Kamala Harris said that in the event of Russian military aggression against Ukraine, Washington will apply harsh and unprecedented sanctions against Russia.
• US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone for almost an hour on December 30. Biden again threatened Putin with tough sanctions and increased assistance to Ukraineif Russia escalates its aggression.
• US President Joe Biden on the evening of January 2 had a telephone conversation with Vladimir Zelensky, during which he promised to give a decisive response in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine. Biden, among other things, spoke out in support of diplomatic efforts to implement the Minsk agreements and promised that Washington would not make decisions regarding partners without their knowledge.
• 10 January Negotiations between representatives of Russia and the United States on security guarantees were held in Geneva, which Moscow is seeking from NATO. The meeting was preceded by a sharp escalation in rhetoric on both sides, with President Joe Biden's administration accusing Moscow of planning a new invasion of Ukraine, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin threatening to use "military-technical measures" to defend his country.
• January 13 US Senate Democrats unveiled a bill imposing wide-ranging sanctions on top Russian government and military officials, including President Vladimir Putin, as well as the main banking institutions, if Moscow starts military operations against Ukraine.
• On January 14, a US official said the US had evidence that Russia prepared a group of people in advance for a false flag operation in eastern Ukraineto create an excuse to invade. These fighters are trained in urban warfare and the use of explosives to carry out acts of sabotage.
• As of January 18 Russia evacuated almost 50 people from its consulates in Kiev and Lvov, said a senior Ukrainian security official. According to him, diplomats from two more Russian consulates in Ukraine are preparing to leave.
• 24 January The US Department of State granted permission for voluntary departure (“authorized departure”) of U.S. government employees and ordered family members (“mandatory departure”) of U.S. government employees to leave the embassy in Kiev.
• January 26 USA denied Russia's request to block Ukraine's path to NATO.
• According to the United States, Russia may release a fabricated video of an attack on people and then use it as a pretext to attack Ukraine.
• Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale introduced a bill according to which the United States will not be able to provide assistance to Ukraine until the wall is completed on the southern border of the United States.
• On February 11, it became known that US officials believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine, and attack could happen as early as next week.

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