The United States Embassy in Kyiv is working on “emergency preparations” in the event it must evacuate non-emergency personnel or diplomats’ families due to a Russian invasion of Ukraine, internal emails obtained by ABC News revealed this week.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin considers “diverse” military options related to Ukraine, the embassy is preparing for “permanent staff [to] continue Emergency Preparations in case of Authorized or Ordered Departure,” which allows diplomats’ families and non-emergency personnel to move because of a threat.
A State Department spokesperson said the Biden administration is “conducting normal contingency planning, as we always do, in the event the security situation severely deteriorates.” However, they are not “currently considering evacuations of U.S. government personnel or American citizens from Ukraine.”
In December, the State Department took additional steps to ensure Americans’ safety abroad, updating its travel advisory for Ukraine to have a warning over “increased threats from Russia.”
The warning says, “U.S. citizens should be aware of reports that Russia is planning for significant military action against Ukraine.”
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