UK pulls some embassy staff from Ukraine amid Russian threat

Some British staff and dependants are being withdrawn from the embassy in Ukraine in response to a growing threat from Russia, the Foreign Office said.

© Provided by The Guardian
Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Officials said there were currently no specific threats to British diplomats, with about half of the staff in Kyiv reportedly scheduled to come home to the UK.

It follows US officials ordering relatives of embassy staff to leave Ukraine as a Russian invasion could come “at any time”.

Russia has denied having any plans for military action in Ukraine.

The Foreign Office said: “Some embassy staff and dependants are being withdrawn from Kyiv in response to the growing threat from Russia.

“The British embassy remains open and will continue to carry out essential work.”

More follows …