The US State Department began the evacuation of diplomats from Ukraine

On Sunday evening, the US State Department ordered the removal of family members of embassy employees in Ukraine due to the ongoing threat of hostilities. The voluntary departure of civil servants from Ukraine was also approved. Americans are advised to leave the country immediately.

“We have consulted with the government of Ukraine on this move and are coordinating with the allied and partner embassies in Kiev as they determine their position”, - a US embassy official told Reuters.

The State Department recommends that Americans refuse to travel to Ukraine and Russia, as well as immediately leave the country amid the aggravation of the situation in the region.

"The US Embassy in Kiev continues to operate, and its charge d'affaires a.i. Christina Quinn remains in Ukraine", - State Department officials said.

Employees of the US Embassy in Ukraine, according to CNN , turned to the State Department with a corresponding request a few days earlier. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it "an overreaction".

A few days earlier, on January 18, The New York Times reported on the evacuation of Russian diplomats and their families from Ukraine.