State Department urges Americans to evacuate Ukraine 'now'

As tensions between the Kremlin and the West reach a near boiling point, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has issued an alert urging American citizens in Ukraine to considering leaving the country given the "unpredictable" situation.

"The security situation in Ukraine continues to be unpredictable due to the increased threat of Russian military action and can deteriorate with little notice," the embassy said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens in Ukraine to consider departing now using commercial or other privately available transportation options," it added.

Although Russia has repeatedly denied plans to invade its neighbor, it has amassed more than 100,000 troops near the border with Ukraine in recent weeks and has held a series of provocative military exercises, sparking concerns that it may be preparing for a further incursion into the country after illegally annexing Crimea in 2014.

The Embassy’s message to Americans came just days after it warned citizens that the Biden administration will be unable to help with evacuations from Ukraine in the event of a Russian incursion.

"As President Biden has said, military action by Russia could come at any time and the United States government will not be in a position to evacuate American citizens in such a contingency, so U.S. citizens currently present in Ukraine should plan accordingly, including by availing themselves of commercial options should they choose to leave the country," the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine said.