The U.S. Department of State announced it would be suspending operations at the U.S. embassy in Mink, Belarus, as reported in a Feb. 28 news release, in response to mounting security and safety issues in the area due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The department also announced it had authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency employees and their family members from the U.S. embassy in Moscow, Russia.
The U.S. embassy adjusts its presence on embassies and consulates based on its mission, the current security environment and the current health situation.
"We ultimately have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens, and that includes our U.S. government personnel and their dependents serving around the world," said the department in its statement.
This would not be the first time the U.S. has had issues with Belarus. In 2008, the U.S. enacted sanctions on Belarus in light of human rights abuses. The Belarusian government would respond by expelling its U.S. ambassador, a position that has remained vacant to this day.
In its statement, the department lambasted Russia's invasion of Ukraine as unprovoked and unjustified.
