US urges citizens in Russia to consider leaving ‘immediately’

The U.S. is urging citizens in Russia to consider leaving the country “immediately” amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The security alert comes as more countries are closing their airspace to Russian airlines, including Britain, Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania, according to Reuters.

“An increasing number of airlines are cancelling flights into and out of Russia, and numerous countries have closed their airspace to Russian airlines,” the U.S. Embassy in Russia wrote in a security alert on Sunday.

“U.S. citizens should consider departing Russia immediately via commercial options still available,” the embassy added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday morning Moscow time, setting off a global scramble to support Kyiv and isolate Moscow. 

Russian forces entered Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, on Sunday. Russia’s invasion, however, has been slowed by resistance from Ukrainian troops and private citizens.

Sunday’s security alert comes after the State Department earlier this month warned Americans against traveling to Belarus because of the buildup of Russian troops along the country’s border with Ukraine.

In early February, President Biden advised Americans in Ukraine to leave the country because of the risk of a Russian invasion.

Ukraine and Russia are now slated to participate in peace talks on the border of Ukraine and Belarus, while Putin has ordered Russia’s nuclear forces to be on high alert.