"Half of UK Embassy Staff in Ukraine Withdrawn" (Update)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The withdrawal of staff from the British Embassy in Ukraine has reportedly begun in earnest. Following the U.S. Embassy's order to evacuate families of embassy staff and non-essential personnel, the British government also issued an evacuation order, raising concerns that the war tension in Ukraine will escalate further.

On the 24th (local time), the British BBC, citing senior government officials, reported, "Although there is no specific threat to British diplomats at this time, about half of them are expected to return to the UK for now." This measure is understood to have been influenced by the U.S. State Department's earlier evacuation order for embassy staff families and non-essential personnel.

Earlier, the U.S. State Department also issued a travel ban to Ukraine in a statement released the previous day. This action is known to be a response to the increased possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. State Department stated that this measure is a precautionary step and that no specific incidents triggering this action have occurred in the past 24 hours.