Official Statement
attributable to a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson:
On 24 January, the Australian Government updated travel advice for Ukraine, raising the overall level to Do Not Travel (Level 4), reflecting the increased risk of armed conflict. Australians in Ukraine should leave now by commercial means, where safe to do so, noting that flight availability could change or be suspended at short notice.
Security conditions can change at short notice. Consular services and our ability to provide consular assistance to Australians may be limited due to local circumstances.
Australians who decide to remain in Ukraine should review their personal security plans, be prepared to shelter in place if required, maintain heightened security awareness and register with DFAT.
Following Australian Government advice, family members of Australian diplomats plan to depart Kyiv. Locally engaged staff continue to work at the Australian Embassy, together with their Australia-based colleagues, to advance Australian interests and provide services to Australians in Ukraine.
On background (for reporting, not for attribution):
Further information on travel advice for Ukraine is available at Smartraveller. Australians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the Australian Government 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 in Australia or +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia. Russian military action may severely limit our ability to provide consular assistance
January 24, 2022
9.15pm
STOP PRESS
AUSTRALIANS TOLD TO LEAVE UKRAINE NOW
The Federal government tells Australians in Ukraine to “leave now” because of the security situation, while it also begins withdrawing family members of Australian diplomats based in the capital, Kyiv.
The federal government moved at about 9.15pm on Monday to raise the travel advice warning on Ukraine to “do not travel” and telling Australians to leave the country now by commercial means and to be aware that flights could change or be suspended at short notice.
“Consular services and our ability to provide consular assistance to Australians may be limited due to local circumstances,” the government said.
Ukrainian sources estimate there are 1400 Australians in Ukraine but the government did not confirm this figure. The federal government said family members of Australian diplomats planned to depart Kyiv.
“Australians who decide to remain in Ukraine should review their personal security plans, be prepared to shelter in place if required, maintain heightened security awareness and register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,” the government said.
Ukraine’s top diplomat in Canberra, Volodymyr Shalkivskyi, said the emergency help for critical networks was “at the top of our list” in the discussions after at least 70 government systems came under attack at the height of tensions with Russia.
SMH
