The State Department authorized an evacuation process Sunday for some staff members at the embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine and is urging American citizens to leave the country amid continued threat of a Russian invasion.
“On January 23, 2022, the Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of U.S. direct hire employees and ordered the departure of eligible family members from Embassy Kyiv due to the continued threat of Russian military action,” the State Department confirmed in a press release. “U.S. citizens in Ukraine should consider departing now using commercial or other privately available transportation options.”
The State Department’s announcement coincides with continued Russian aggression at the Ukrainian border. Russia has been building up its forces at the border for months, and efforts by President Joe Biden’s administration to de-escalate the situation through diplomatic means have proven unsuccessful.
“There are reports Russia is planning significant military action against Ukraine,” the State Department also noted on Sunday. “The security conditions, particularly along Ukraine’s borders, in Russia-occupied Crimea, and in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine, are unpredictable and can deteriorate with little notice. Demonstrations, which have turned violent at times, regularly occur throughout Ukraine, including in Kyiv.”
In the same press release, the State Dept notes it has “authorized the voluntary departure of U.S. direct hire employees and ordered the departure of eligible family members from Embassy Kyiv due to the continued threat of Russian military action.”
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) January 23, 2022
White House press secretary Jen Psaki issued perhaps the starkest warning yet regarding the growing tensions during a press briefing on Jan. 18. The press secretary said at the time that “Russia could, at any point, launch an attack” against Ukraine.
“So, let’s be clear: Our view is this is an extremely dangerous situation,” she added. “We’re now at a stage where Russia could, at any point, launch an attack in Ukraine. And what Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken is going to go do is highlight very clearly: There is a diplomatic path forward. It is the choice of President Putin and the Russians to make, whether they are going to suffer severe economic consequences or not.”
Biden has vowed to impose “significant and severe economic harm on the Russian economy” if Russian President Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine. Blinken has spoken about the situation as well, telling CNN on Sunday that “a single additional Russian force” entering Ukraine aggressively would spark “a swift, a severe and a united response from us and from Europe.”
While the administration has vowed serious repercussions if Russia moves forward with its invasion, Biden sparked confusion Wednesday after saying that Russia will be held “accountable if it invades” – depending “on what [Russia] does.” (RELATED: Ukrainian President Zelensky Reminds Biden That ‘There Are No Minor Incursions’ After Press Conference Debacle)
“It’s one thing if it’s a minor incursion and we end up having to fight about what to do and not do, et cetera, but if they do what they are capable of doing with the forces massed on the border, it will be a disaster for Russia if they invade Ukraine,” Biden said during a formal press conference.
Shortly after his comments, both Psaki and National Security Counsel spokeswoman Emily Horne scrambled to issue clarifications.
“President Biden has been clear with the Russian President: If any Russian military forces move across the Ukrainian border, that’s a renewed invasion, and it will be met with a swift, severe, and united response from the United States and our Allies,” Psaki said during a press briefing Thursday. “President Biden also knows from long experience that the Russians have an extensive playbook of aggression short of military action, including cyber-attacks and paramilitary tactics.”