US shuts down Minsk embassy, allows emergency employees to stay in Moscow

The United States on Monday shut down its embassy in Minsk, Belarus and allowed non-emergency employees and family members to depart from
its embassy in Moscow as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continued in the biggest
attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two.

“We took these steps due to security and safety
issues stemming from the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military
forces in Ukraine,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

A photo posted on Twitter by US ambassador to
Belarus Julie Fisher on Monday showed mission staff lowering the American flag.
All American staff have departed Belarus, Fisher tweeted.

In the wake of the war in Ukraine, the US moved its
Ukraine embassy operations from the capital Kyiv to the western city of Lviv
two weeks ago as Russian forces amassed at Ukraine’s borders.

The latest evacuations came after Russian President
Vladimir Putin put Russia’s nuclear deterrent on high alert on Sunday in the
face of a barrage of Western sanctions for his war on Ukraine, which bombed cities,
destroyed infrastructure and killed civilians.

Meanwhile, Russia on Monday blocked airlines from 36
countries from using Russian airspace after European nations and Canada on
Sunday closed their airspace for Russian aircraft.

The United States is considering similar action, but
has yet to make a final decision, according to US officials. The US government
over the weekend urged citizens to consider leaving Russia immediately on
commercial flights amid the increasing flight cancellations.

India exploring to facilitate opening up more border transit points

The Indian embassy in Ukraine, meanwhile, on Sunday
said it is continuously exploring to facilitate opening up more border transit
points with neighbouring countries for the evacuation of Indian citizens from
Ukraine.

In an advisory, the embassy said it is closely monitoring
the developing situation, especially in the eastern regions of Ukraine, and
that it is in constant touch with the authorities for the safety of Indian
citizens.

“As and when curfew is lifted and there is
considerable movement of people in your respective neighbourhoods, Indian
nationals are advised to use nearby railway stations for movement out of
regions of active conflict and proceed towards the western regions,” the
embassy said.