The Department of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advice for Ukraine amid fears of a Russian invasion.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has said that Irish citizens currently in Ukraine are advised to leave the country immediately.
Changes to the travel advice from the Irish Government for Ukraine come as tension continues to rise between Russia and the West.
While Russia has repeatedly said it will not invade its neighbour Ukraine, it has gathered over 100,000 of its troops along the country’s border.
This has provoked fears that a Russian invasion of Ukraine may be imminent.
A number of countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, have urged their citizens currently in the former Soviet state to leave immediately.
In a statement issued on Saturday (12 February), the DFA says:
“Following intensive consultations overnight and this morning with EU partners in Kyiv and Brussels, and with other partners, the Department of Foreign Affairs has upgraded travel advice for Ukraine.
“We advise against all travel to Ukraine and ask citizens currently in Ukraine to leave immediately by commercial means.
“In common with the embassies of partner states, the Embassy of Ireland in Kyiv will remain open, with a small number of essential staff remaining.
“That situation will be kept under review.”
The Department also says it has been in direct contact with everyone from Ireland scheduled to travel to Ukraine for surrogacy purposes.
It adds that it will continue to provide support to each of these individuals and families with “advice relevant to their particular situation”.
“We remain in ongoing contact at senior level with EU partners, as well as the UK and the US regarding the wider political and security situation in and around Ukraine.”
The updated travel advice for Ukraine is available at the DFA’s website here.
Any Irish citizens requiring emergency consular assistance should contact the Department of Foreign Affairs at +353 1 4082000.
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