*[Enwl-eng] American Embassy in Ukraine Temporarily Relocated Away From Kyiv As Russian Invasion Threat Looms

Fri Feb 18 01:35:04 MSK 2022

American Embassy in Ukraine Temporarily Relocated Away From Kyiv As Russian Invasion Threat LoomsWe Hold These Truths... 
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                                a.. The State Dept. announced Monday that the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv will be temporarily relocated away from Ukraine’s capital city because of the threat posed by a potential Russian invasion that could begin “at any time” in the coming days. 
                                b.. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that he and his team have been reviewing the security situation in Ukraine and “are in the process of temporarily relocating our Embassy operations in Ukraine from our Embassy in Kyiv to Lviv due to the dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces.” Blinken added: 
                              “These prudent precautions in no way undermine our support for or our commitment to Ukraine. Our commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering. We also continue our sincere efforts to reach a diplomatic solution, and we remain engaged with the Russian government following President Biden’s call with President Putin and my discussion with Foreign Minister Lavrov. The path for diplomacy remains available if Russia chooses to engage in good faith. We look forward to returning our staff to the Embassy as soon as conditions permit.”
                                a.. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told House lawmakers in a briefing that only 22 personnel remained at the Kyiv Embassy as of Monday morning and the only American military personnel remaining in the country are part of the Embassy’s security detail.  
                                b.. Defense and intelligence officials have been concerned that if Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine with the more than 130,000 troops it has massed along Ukraine’s border, including in neighboring Belarus, the capital of Kyiv may face Russian air and missile attacks that could precede ground combat or an encirclement and siege. 
                                c.. The U.S. is joining several other Western governments that have temporarily relocated their embassy from Kyiv to Lviv, as Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands have all made the same decision. 
                                d.. Lviv is a Ukrainian city with more than 700,000 residents that’s located about 340 miles west of Kyiv and is only 43 miles away from the Polish border. The State Dept. has recommended that Americans evacuating Ukraine do so by using the Polish border, where they will be required to show proof of vaccination in addition to their U.S. passport. 
                                e.. Aside from Poland, other options for Americans evacuating Ukraine include traveling west to Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. Moldova is another option, although Americans are discouraged from entering that country through the breakaway region of Transnistria, where the U.S. Embassy has limited access and Russia’s military has deployed troops to support the separatists. 
                              RELATED READING
                                a.. U.S. & Allies Sending More Troops to Eastern Europe, Arms to Ukraine Amid Russian Invasion Threat (2/12/22) 
                                b.. U.S. Believes Russia May Launch Invasion of Ukraine ‘At Any Time’ - Americans Warned to Leave Ukraine Immediately (2/11/22) 
                                c.. U.S. Deploying 3,000 Troops to NATO Countries in Eastern Europe Amid Russia’s Military Buildup (2/2/22) 
                                d.. NATO Increases Readiness of Multinational Response Force - What Is It? (1/29/22) 
                                e.. State Dept. Encourages American Citizens to Leave Ukraine, Begins Evacuation of Embassy Staff Members' Families (1/24/22) 
                                f.. U.S. & NATO Allies Provide Aid to Ukraine Amid Russia's Military Buildup (1/22/22) 
                                g.. U.S. Intel Warns Russia is Prepping ‘False Flag’ Operation as Pretext for Invading Ukraine (1/15/22) 
                                h.. Biden Tells Ukrainian President the U.S. ‘Will Respond Decisively’ if Russia Invades Further (1/3/22) 
                                i.. U.S. & NATO Urge Russia to Pull Back >From its Military Buildup on Ukraine’s Border (12/3/21) 
                                j.. Biden Admin Freezes Sale of Lethal Arms to Ukraine Amid Russian Military Buildup (6/18/21) 

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                              From: Paul Fagan 
                              Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2022 5:48 PM
                              Subject: American Embassy in Ukraine Temporarily Relocated Away From Kyiv As Russian Invasion Threat Looms

                             
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