Finland embassy in Kyiv relocates staff to Lviv

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Tuesday decided to relocate its staff temporarily from Kyiv to Lviv based on an overall assessment of the security situation in Ukraine, said the ministry in a press release.

Finland has previously reduced the number of employees posted to work at the Embassy of Kyiv.

Locally employed staff of the Embassy will continue to work in Kyiv, as appropriate. They have been offered the opportunity to leave the city.

The Embassy will continue its operations under special arrangements. Customer services are reduced and available only can by appointment.

In an emergency, those staying in Ukraine can contact the Foreign Ministry’s 24/7 Service Centre by phone or email, the press release added.

In accordance with its travel advice, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs urged people to leave Ukraine immediately.

On February 14, Finland’s Embassy in Kyiv has repatriated some of its staff members to Finland and limited its capabilities to assist people in distress abroad following the worsening security tension in Ukraine.

Earlier, on 11 February the government urged the people to leave Ukraine immediately and be refrained from travelling to Ukraine the country terming the situation in eastern Ukraine as very dangerous.