State Department issues alert urging American citizens to leave Ukraine

The U.S. State Department has issued a security alert on Monday urging every U.S. citizen in Ukraine to leave the country if they can.

“The Department of State has information that Russia is stepping up efforts to launch strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government facilities in the coming days. The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Ukraine now using privately available ground transportation options if it is safe to do so,” the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv said in an alert on its website, according to Reuters.

The alert was issued right after the U.S. intelligence community declassified on Monday that Russia would increase attacks in Ukrainian civilian infrastructures. The official has decided to remain anonymous given they weren’t authorized to comment publicly about the matter or findings. 

This new intelligence comes six months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which coincides with Ukraine’s Independence Day from the Soviet Union.

On Sunday, President Joe Biden spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pertaining to the shelling of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine. 

The Biden administration is currently in the mist of keeping Western Allies and Washington D.C., focused on applying pressure toward Russia and the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.