Russia, in connection with the situation in Ukraine, is evacuating its diplomats and employees of embassies and consulates general from there, according to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“To protect their lives and safety, the Russian leadership decided to evacuate the personnel of Russian foreign missions in Ukraine, which will be implemented in the very near future,” the statement says.
The Foreign Ministry noted that since 2014, the Russian embassy in Kiev, as well as the consulates general in Odessa, Lvov and Kharkov, have been attacked several times. In addition, provocations were carried out against the Russian Center for Science and Culture in the Ukrainian capital, the organization caused damage, and its leader was also injured. Diplomats received threats, their cars were set on fire.
The Foreign Ministry added that over the course of several years, Ukraine “sank deeper and deeper into chaos.” There, according to the ministry, a policy of “Russophobia” is being pursued, in particular, there is an “attack on the Russian language”, and the rights of Russian-speaking citizens are being violated.
Finally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed to the “reprisals” carried out in Ukraine against political opponents without trial, to the persecution of journalists and censorship. “Authoritarian forms of government are being strengthened in the country,” the Russian ministry said of Ukraine.
Earlier today, a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksiy Goncharenko submitted a draft resolution on the severance of diplomatic relations with Russia for consideration by the country’s parliament. This step is due to Moscow’s decision to recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DNR and LNR). Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed relevant decrees, and today federal laws on the ratification of treaties on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with both republics.