A Russian attack on Ukraine has not yet been decided – but the Foreign Office is concerned about the Germans who live there. Austria and NATO are also reacting.
In view of the further escalation of the Ukraine crisis, the federal government is now “urgently” calling on all Germans to leave Ukraine immediately.
“A military conflict is possible at any time,” wrote the Federal Foreign Office in its security instructions for the country on the Internet. So far, the ministry had only asked those Germans to leave the country “at short notice” whose presence was not “absolutely necessary”.
The security and travel advice had already been tightened a week ago after the first warnings from the US government of a possible imminent Russian attack. «If you are currently in Ukraine, check whether your presence is mandatory. If not, leave at short notice, »it has been said since then. “A military conflict cannot be ruled out.”
Security warning tightened
On Friday, US President Joe Biden tightened his war warning again and said he now firmly expects an attack on Ukraine – including the capital Kiev – in the next few days. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, on the other hand, said that an attack had not yet been decided.
The safety instructions have been tightened up even more. The website of the Federal Foreign Office now says: “German nationals are urgently requested to leave the country now. (…) Leave on time. Should there be a Russian attack on Ukraine, the options for supporting German nationals are very limited.”
NATO withdraws employees from Kiev
NATO is also withdrawing employees from its representation in Kiev. “The safety of our staff is of the utmost importance, which is why employees have been relocated to Lviv and Brussels,” said a spokeswoman in Brussels on Saturday. However, the Alliance’s offices in Ukraine remained functional.
NATO initially did not provide any information on the number of employees who had been relocated. The alliance has a diplomatic mission in Kiev, which, with several dozen employees, was until recently the largest in a non-member country. In addition, NATO operates an information and documentation center in the Ukrainian capital. The United States had previously relocated personnel to Lviv in western Ukraine.
Travel warning from Austria
Shortly before Germany, Austria asked its citizens living in Ukraine to leave the country. “A significant deterioration in the situation must be expected,” said the Foreign Ministry in Vienna.
The incidents in eastern Ukraine have increased massively in the last 24 hours. The request applies to all of Ukraine except for some western parts. Around 180 Austrians are currently registered as staying in Ukraine.
A travel warning has also been issued. The Austrian embassy staff, on the other hand, was strengthened. “It will continue to hold the position on site in order to support Austrians when they leave the country and to keep in touch with the Ukrainian partners,” it said.
flights suspended
Starting Monday, Lufthansa will be suspending flights to and from Kiev and the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odessa. “Due to the current situation in Ukraine, the airlines in the Lufthansa Group will initially suspend their regular flights to Kiev (KBP) and Odessa (ODS) until the end of February,” the company said on request. Lufthansa is “constantly monitoring the situation and will decide on further flights at a later date,” it said.
“The safety of our passengers and crew members has top priority at all times,” said a company spokesman. Individual flights would still be operated today and tomorrow in order to offer booked passengers a travel option. According to the spokesman, affected guests will be informed and rebooked on alternative flight connections.
According to Lufthansa, flights to Lviv in western Ukraine will continue to take place regularly. “Lufthansa continues to monitor the situation closely and is in close contact with national and international authorities,” the spokesman continued.
Source: Stern
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