Russia optimizes its diplomatic staff in Ukraine
ERBIL, Iraq (North Press) – Russia has decided to “optimize ” the numbers of its diplomatic staff at its embassy and three consulates in Ukraine, fearing “provocations” by Kyiv or other party, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday.
This came in response to a media question on Russia’s optimization of its diplomatist staff embassy in Kyiv and consular in Lviv, Odesa and Kharkiv.
Zakharova noted that a number of Western media outlets, including “The New York Times” reported, almost a month ago, allegations about “evacuation of Russian diplomats from Ukraine” during the New Year holiday when children of Russian diplomats from Ukraine went home to visit their families.
She said, “We now understand that these fabrications came with the aim of providing media coverage of the fact that the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada and other States had begun to evacuate their diplomats and families from their embassies in Ukraine, and yesterday Israel also announced the beginning of the evacuation.
Russia suspected the US and UK, the first western countries to announce embassy drawdowns, “know about some sort of military actions being prepared in Ukraine that could significantly complicate the security situation,” Zakharova noted.
“Fearing possible provocations from the Kyiv regime or other countries we have indeed decided to optimize staffing at Russian missions in Ukraine.”
Russia’s embassy and consulates “will continue to fulfil their main functions,” Zakharova added.