The Independent View: U.S. Kyiv Embassy Asks State To Authorize Departure Of Nonessential Personnel

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, has requested that the State Department authorize the Departure of All Nonessential Staff and their Families.

A State Department Spokesperson said: "We conduct rigorous contingency planning, as we always do, in the event the security situation deteriorates."

A source close to the Ukrainian Government said that it is: "likely to start evacuations as early as next week" of the families of diplomats from the embassy in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken to U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, about the matter and told him that if the U.S. took such a dramatic step, it would be an "overreaction."

The Embassy's request marks an Escalation from last month, that the U.S. was working on Contingency planning to Evacuate Americans from Ukraine, as Russia has continued to mass Troops near the Border, and spark fears of a renewed Invasion.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry's latest Intelligence Assessment, assessed that Russia has now Deployed more than 127,000 Troops in the Region.

At the same time, the First U.S. Shipment of recently directed Security Assistance arrives in the Ukraine.

The State Department has already issued the Highest-Level Travel Advisory for Ukraine, telling Americans Not to Travel to the Country, and to be aware of Reports that Russia is planning for significant Military Action against Ukraine.

"If there is a decision to change our posture with respect to American diplomats and their families, American citizens should not anticipate that there will be US government-sponsored evacuations. Currently, commercial flights are available to support departures," the Spokesperson said.

U.S. Officials still don't know what Russian President Vladimir Putin's plans are or whether he has even decided to Invade.

But some Officials, who have seen the Intelligence, say there is evidence that Russia is planning to try to take Kyiv and Overthrow the Government.

The Deployment of Forces from Russia's Eastern Military District to Belarus, on Monday, struck many U.S. Officials and Russian Military Analysts as particularly Ominous.

On my mother's side, this area was called: Great, Great, Grandmother Belarus, Great Grandmother Russia, Grandmother Ukraine. My Grandmother married her First Cousin, her Aunt's son, so it was the same family line.

On Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, the Staff Families was told to come Home.