The United States has issued a Travel Alert in the wake of the ongoing political unrest and violent clashes between police and protesters in Ukraine.
The U.S. Department of State alerted U.S. citizens of the increased risks of travel to that country.
Since Tuesday, there has been a sharp escalation in violence between protesters and police. The Ukrainian Security Services have announced that they may take extraordinary measures to deal with the protesters. U.S. citizens were urged to maintain a low profile and to remain indoors at night while clashes continue. The Kyiv Metro subway has been shut down and access into Kyiv by road has reportedly been restricted. The U.S. citizens in Kyiv have been advised to follow media reports closely as events develop, as the situation is currently very fluid.
The State Department advised U.S. citizens to avoid all protests, demonstrations, and large gatherings. U.S. citizens whose residences or hotels are located in the vicinity of the protests are cautioned to leave those areas or prepare to remain indoors, possibly for several days, if clashes occur.
At least 25 demonstrators were killed and hundreds on both sides injured in renewed attack by Police on anti-government protesters in Kiev on Tuesday.
The police made an assault to clear protesters who remain in Kyiv's Independence Square, also known as the Maidan, and several government buildings in the capital and other cities throughout Ukraine.
The State Department warned that the situation in Ukraine is unpredictable and could change quickly. Further violent clashes between police and protesters in Kyiv and other cities are possible. The location and nature of demonstrations and methods employed by the police can change quickly and without warning. Protest sites have drawn large crowds, and protesters have blocked roads in Kyiv and other cities and may do so again, the Travel Alert says.
Protests in Kyiv began in November, following the Ukrainian Government's announcement that it was suspending preparations to sign an association agreement with the European Union. On November 30, police severely injured several demonstrators in an attempt to remove them from Independence Square. Protesters retaliated by extending their sit-in demonstrations to the City Administration Building and other buildings.
Since then, there have been several fierce clashes between protesters and police, using stones, Molotov cocktails, tear gas and rubber bullets. Several demonstrators have been killed and hundreds on both sides injured.
Meanwhile, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter expressed his deep concern about Tuesday's developments in Ukraine. Burkhalter, who is also Swiss Foreign Minister, called on all sides to refrain from violence.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed serious concern about the return to violence in Ukraine and the deaths in Kyiv. He called on all parties to refrain from violence and to urgently resume dialogue, including through the parliamentary process.
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