The United States of America has instructed the families of its government employees in Belarus to leave the country.
According to the State Department, this order is coming as fears grow of a Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
The order came hours after Washington and Moscow clashed over Ukraine at the UN Security Council, and after Washington threatened to slap sanctions on wealthy Russian oligarchs if the ex-Soviet state was attacked.
The US also accused Russia of planning to build its military force in its ally Belarus to 30,000 within weeks.
The State Department “ordered the departure of family members of U.S. government employees” from Belarus, it said in a travel advisory issued Monday.
It also warned Americans not to travel to Belarus “due to the arbitrary enforcement of laws, the risk of detention, and unusual and concerning Russian military buildup along Belarus’ border with Ukraine.”
Russia has massed more than 100,000 troops on its borders with Ukraine, sending tensions soaring with intense efforts by NATO allies to deter an invasion.
