The State Department urged Americans to leave Ukraine because of the "Russian threat" and COVID-19

“U.S. citizens should not travel to Ukraine due to the increased Russian threat and the COVID-19 situation.

Those in Ukraine should leave now using commercial or other privately available transportation options,” the statement said.

The department called on Americans in Ukraine to show increased attention due to the criminogenic situation, as well as civil unrest.

Earlier, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the White House, together with the US Congress, is working on a significant increase in military assistance to Ukraine.

Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) of Russia Sergey Naryshkin said that Russia's accusations of preparing an "invasion of Ukraine" are a staged provocation.