• An instructor trains members of Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces, volunteer military units of the armed forces, in the capital Kiev. AP
    An instructor trains members of Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces, volunteer military units of the armed forces, in the capital Kiev. AP
  • Dozens of civilians have been joining Ukraine's army reserves in recent weeks amid fears about a Russian invasion. AP
    Dozens of civilians have been joining Ukraine's army reserves in recent weeks amid fears about a Russian invasion. AP
  • US President Joe Biden, centre, meets online with his national security team and senior officials to discuss Russia's actions towards Ukraine. AP
    US President Joe Biden, centre, meets online with his national security team and senior officials to discuss Russia's actions towards Ukraine. AP
  • A member of the US Air Force packs ammunition, weapons and other equipment bound for Ukraine, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Reuters
    A member of the US Air Force packs ammunition, weapons and other equipment bound for Ukraine, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Reuters
  • A Ukrainian soldier stationed in the trenches at the front line with Russia-backed separatists near Gorlivka, Donetsk. AFP
    A Ukrainian soldier stationed in the trenches at the front line with Russia-backed separatists near Gorlivka, Donetsk. AFP
  • Rising tension about Russia’s military build-up on the Ukraine border was not eased during talks on Friday between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva. AFP
    Rising tension about Russia’s military build-up on the Ukraine border was not eased during talks on Friday between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva. AFP
  • A Ukrainian soldier pets a dog in a trench at the front line. AFP
    A Ukrainian soldier pets a dog in a trench at the front line. AFP
  • A Ukrainian soldier walks near the line of separation from Russian-backed rebels in the Donetsk region. Reuters
    A Ukrainian soldier walks near the line of separation from Russian-backed rebels in the Donetsk region. Reuters
  • Activists hold an EU flag and posters as they gather in support of Ukraine at the Ukrainian embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia. AP
    Activists hold an EU flag and posters as they gather in support of Ukraine at the Ukrainian embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia. AP
  • The Russian embassy in London. Reuters
    The Russian embassy in London. Reuters
  • Supporters of Ukrainian sovereignty arrive with a Ukrainian flag before holding a protest on the Peace Bridge in Calgary, Canada. Reuters
    Supporters of Ukrainian sovereignty arrive with a Ukrainian flag before holding a protest on the Peace Bridge in Calgary, Canada. Reuters
  • People rallying in patriotic support of Ukraine hold a 500-metre ribbon in the colours of the Ukrainian flag outside St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery on Unity Day, in Kiev. Getty Images
    People rallying in patriotic support of Ukraine hold a 500-metre ribbon in the colours of the Ukrainian flag outside St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery on Unity Day, in Kiev. Getty Images
  • A woman attends the patriotic rally in Kiev. There are now more than 120,000 Russian troops posted on the border along with significant numbers of tanks, artillery and missile batteries. Getty Images
    A woman attends the patriotic rally in Kiev. There are now more than 120,000 Russian troops posted on the border along with significant numbers of tanks, artillery and missile batteries. Getty Images
  • A woman wearing a face mask in the colours of the Ukrainian flag stands at the Wall of Remembrance in Kiev, which shows the photographs, names and birth and death dates of approximately 4,500 soldiers who have died fighting for Ukraine in the Donbas conflict. Approximately 13,000 people have died in the war. Getty Images
    A woman wearing a face mask in the colours of the Ukrainian flag stands at the Wall of Remembrance in Kiev, which shows the photographs, names and birth and death dates of approximately 4,500 soldiers who have died fighting for Ukraine in the Donbas conflict. Approximately 13,000 people have died in the war. Getty Images

World

Europe

Australia helps families of Ukraine embassy staff leave Kiev

Government urges citizens to leave Ukrainian capital due to 'risk of armed conflict'

Jamie Prentis
Jamie Prentis

January 24, 2022

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The Australian government has "directed the departure" of dependants of its embassy staff from Kiev and urged its citizens to leave Ukraine amid fears in some Western capitals that Russian troops massed on the Ukrainian border could be set to invade.

"We now advise you do not travel to Ukraine, due to the risk of armed conflict," said the Australian government's travel advice and consular information service.

"If you're in Ukraine, you should leave now by commercial means if it's safe to do so. Flight availability could change or be suspended at short notice. Contact airlines or transport providers directly."

Although there are an estimated 100,000 Russian troops at the border with Ukraine, Moscow insists it has no plans to invade.

The Australian government said "security conditions can change at short notice".

"Consular services and our ability to provide consular assistance to Australians may be limited due to local circumstances," it said.

The US and UK governments have already announced that some embassy staff and their family members will be withdrawn from Kiev because of the security threat.

However, on Monday, the EU's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said the bloc did not plan to follow the US and UK example for now.

Updated: January 24, 2022, 12:46 PM