British embassy staff and their dependants are being pulled out of the Ukranian capital, Kyiv, amid mounting fears of a Russian invasion.
The Foreign Office confirmed the move after the United States ordered the families of all American personnel at the US Embassy to leave the country in response the the risk of an invasion.
Vladimir Putin’s forces have massed over 100,000 troops at the border with Ukraine and intense diplomatic activity has failed to ease tensions.
The Foreign Office said: “Some embassy staff and dependants are being withdrawn from Kyiv in response to the growing threat from Russia."
“The British Embassy remains open and will continue to carry out essential work.”
The UK believes there is a significant risk Russian president Vladimir Putin will launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has accused the president of plotting to install a pro-Moscow leader as head of the Ukrainian government.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab warned on Sunday there was a “very significant risk” of a Russian invasion of its neighbour.
He told the BBC: “The world needs to keep its eye on this and be very clear with President Putin that it would not do this cost-free, that there would be a price."
“A price in terms of the strenuous defence that we would expect the Ukrainians to put up, but also the economic cost through sanctions, which are of course more effective if the international community speaks as one or at least with a broad consensus.”
There are concerns the crisis could trigger a spike in European energy prices, with reports that officials fear Russia could restrict supplies of gas in response to sanctions.
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