Israel relocates embassy in Ukraine amid Russian invasion fears

Israel on Monday decided to move its embassy in Ukraine from the capital Kyiv to the western city of Lviv, amid fears of a possible Russian invasion.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid ordered the evacuation of the embassy staff to a consular office Tel Aviv opened in Lviv, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The move came following Lapid’s meetings with international actors and a situation assessment he carried out at the ministry, the statement said.

The ministry said it is currently assessing all possibilities to evacuate Israelis from Ukraine.

Tensions rose dramatically in eastern Ukraine last week, with reports of a growing number of cease-fire violations, multiple shelling incidents, and evacuation of civilians from the pro-Russian separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.