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The US Embassy in Kyiv,Ukraine.Credit:AP

Blinken said in a statement the decision was taken out of concern for the safety of embassy staff.

Most embassy staff have already been ordered to depart Ukraine and US citizens have been advised to leave the country.

“My team and I constantly review the security situation to determine when prudence dictates a change in posture.” Blinken said.

“With that in mind,we are in the process of temporarily relocating our Embassy operations in Ukraine from our Embassy in Kyiv to Lviv due to the dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces.”

The Wall Street Journal reported that the State Department ordered the destruction of networking and computer equipment at the Kyiv embassy.

Blinken added that Washington would continue working for a diplomatic solution to the tensions.

Embassy operations were being temporarily moved to Lviv – roughly 80 km from Ukraine’s western border with Poland – but the embassy would remain engaged with the Ukrainian government in Kyiv,Blinken said.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky urged state officials,politicians,and business leaders who have recently left the country to return to Ukraine within 24 hours to show unity with the nation amid fears of an impending Russian invasion.

“It is your direct duty in such a situation to be with us,with the Ukrainian people. I suggest that you return to your homeland within 24 hours and stand shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainian army,our diplomacy,and our people,” Zelensky said in a video address.

Ukrainian media reported that some MPs and top businessmen had fled the country last weekend after the United States,Britain and other Western countries advised their citizens to leave Ukraine urgently.

“Return to your people and to your country,which was the source of your factories and fortunes,” Zelensky said.

Reuters

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