The Department of Foreign Affairs is now urging Irish citizens to leave Ukraine “immediately by commercial means”.
Up until now, the Government had been advising against all non-essential travel to Ukraine, however, that advice has now changed.
A number of countries have already directed their citizens to leave the country as tensions continue to escalate between Ukraine and neighboring Russia.
In a statement this afternoon, the Department of Foreign Affairs said:
“Following intensive consultations overnight and this morning with EU partners in Kyiv and Brussels, and with other partners, the Department of Foreign Affairs has upgraded travel advice for Ukraine.
“We advise against all travel to Ukraine and ask citizens currently in Ukraine to leave immediately by commercial means.
“Any Irish citizens requiring emergency consular assistance should contact the Department of Foreign Affairs at +353 1 4082000.
“The Irish embassy in Kyiv will remain open “with a small number of essential staff remaining”. However, the Department said that situation will be kept under review.”
The Department has been in direct contact with all of those scheduled to travel to Ukraine for surrogacy purposes in recent days.
“The Department will continue to provide support to each of these individuals and families with advice relevant to their particular situation.
The US had dramatically raised the alarm over Ukraine yesterday, saying a Russian invasion starting with civilians caught under aerial bombing could begin in days and telling US citizens to leave within 48 hours.