U.S. State Department Issues New Advisory Urging Americans To Leave Ukraine
A Ukrainian soldier feeds his dog as other soldiers eat in a shelter at a frontline position amid a buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine. The U.S. State Department has warned Americans to leave Ukraine as tensions surge in the region.
The U.S. State Department has issued a new advisory urging Americans in Ukraine to leave the country at the earliest possibility, strengthening earlier warnings that urged U.S. citizens to "consider" such action.
"Do not travel to Ukraine due to the increased threats of Russian military action and COVID-19," the February 10 advisory states.
"Those in Ukraine should depart now via commercial or private means," it adds.
"If remaining in Ukraine, exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and potential combat operations should Russia take military action. Some areas have increased risk."
Tensions are high in the region amid a flurry of diplomatic activity involving Western leaders and Russia following moves by Moscow to mass at least 100,000 troops near its border with Ukraine.
Western leaders have expressed concerns of a possible new invasion by Russia of Ukraine. Russia already invaded Ukraine in 2014, seizing the Crimea region and aiding separatists in the eastern portion of the country.
Russia denies it is planning to invade Ukraine, even as it holds massive military maneuvers with ally Belarus involving some 30,000 troops.
On February 1, the State Department warned American travelersto avoid nearby Belarus due to the "arbitrary enforcement" of laws, the risk of detention, and the "unusual and concerning" Russian military buildup along Belarus's border with Ukraine.
In Photos: New Images Capture Russia Massing Weaponry Around Ukraine
1/24In Crimea, a new deployment of troops and equipment is visible at the Oktyabrskoye airfield north of Simferopol on February 10.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
2/24Armored vehicles of a new deployment are visible in Slavne on Crimea's northwest coast on February 9.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
3/24Equipment and new deployments are visible in Novoozernoye, Crimea, on February 9.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
4/24A new deployment of troops, vehicles, and helicopters was identified on February 10 at the Zyabrovka airfield near Homel, Belarus, less than 25 kilometers from the border with Ukraine.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
5/24An overview of deployment areas near Rechytsa on February 9. Rechytsa is in Belarus's southeastern Homel region, some 55 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
6/24Armored vehicles and transporters arrive at Russia's Kursk training area on February 9, about 100 kilometers east of Ukraine.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
7/24Multiple battle groups and troop housing areas are visible at the Kursk training area on February 9.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
8/24Six SU-25 ground-attack aircraft are shown at Luninets airfield in Belarus. The image was taken on February 4. Luninets is in the southwestern Brest region, about 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
9/24Probable S-400 air-defense deployments at the Luninets airfield on February 4.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
10/24Probable SS-26 Iskander and multiple-rocket launchers deployed northwest of Yelsk on February 4. Yelsk is in Belarus's Homel region, about 20 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
11/24Troops and logistics-material-support units northwest of Yelsk on February 4.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
12/24A troop-housing area and vehicle park in Rechytsa on February 4.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
13/24A cluster of vehicles that reportedly includes truck-launched Iskander missile systems at the Osipovichi military training area, just south of Minsk. The image was taken on February 1.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
14/24A wider view of the Osipovichi military facility on February 1. Russian-made Iskander missiles are capable of precise strikes on targets up to 500 kilometers away.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
15/24An overview of vehicles and housing for troops near Baranovichi, Belarus, on January 29. Russia has placed troops and equipment inside Belarus in recent days as the countries prepare to hold joint military exercises.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
16/24A crowded military base in Bakhchisaray on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula on February 1.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
17/24Massed vehicles at a military base in Novoozernoye, Crimea, as photographed by satellite on February 1.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
18/24Military tents and armored vehicles in Yevpatoria, Crimea, on February 1.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
19/24An older satellite image shows snow-dusted Russian military vehicles parked in Yelnya, Russia, on January 19. Yelnya is in Russia's northwestern Smolensk region, around 120 kilometers from the border with Belarus and 260 kilometers from Ukraine.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
20/24Armored personnel carriers and trucks at Klimovo on January 19. The Klimovo military storage facility is located just 35 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
21/24Tents and housing for Russian troops in Yelnya on January 19.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
22/24Russian tanks and artillery-support equipment, some of which was apparently in use recently, parked in Yelnya on January 19.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
23/24Military equipment massed at the Klimovo storage facility on January 19. Older imagery from Google Maps of the same locationshows a fraction of the military vehicles present.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
24/24Military hardware at a railway yard in Klimovo on January 19. Recent videos have captured massive amounts of military hardware being transported by rail in western Russia.
Satellite photos from February 10 and earlier show a massive Russian buildup of military hardware, reportedly including ballistic-missile systems. Some of the buildup is in Belarus, not far from the Ukrainian border.
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That advisory came as Canada told its citizens to avoid all travel to Ukraine citing "ongoing Russian threats and the risk of armed conflict."
On January 26, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv issued an alert urging Americans in Ukraine to considering leaving the country given the "unpredictable" situation amid heightened tensions with Russia over its troop buildup near the border, surrounding Ukraine from the north, east, and south.
"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 embassy said in a statement at that time.
"The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens in Ukraine to consider departing now using commercial or other privately available transportation options," it added.
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