Four more countries warn citizens against traveling to Ukraine after US alert
Photo: Tourists in Kyiv (Getty Images)
The United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany are urging their citizens to refrain from traveling to Ukraine. Foreigners are being warned about the threat of Russian missile strikes and a difficult winter with power, water, and heating outages.
The UK Foreign Office emphasizes that travel insurance will not cover losses incurred by those who decide to visit Ukraine despite official warnings. The official ban applies to the entire country, with the exception of the Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Lviv, and Chernivtsi regions.
The British agency highlights the high risks to energy infrastructure during the winter.
"Russian attacks on the energy network may result in unscheduled blackouts or emergency power cuts with little notice. Rolling scheduled blackouts may be required in some areas. Electricity outages may also affect district heating and water supplies. Be aware that temperatures may drop below -20°C in the depths of winter," the British Foreign Office says in a statement.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports an increased risk of new Russian missile attacks across the entire territory and strongly advises against any travel to Ukraine.
On the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website, the entire territory of Ukraine is designated as a high-risk zone.
"Under no circumstances should you travel there. It is far too dangerous. The Dutch Embassy will not be able to assist you if problems arise. If you are already in Ukraine, leave the country as soon as it is safe to do so," its recommendations state.
Germany updated its travel advisories on the eve of Ukraine's Independence Day, warning of the risk of increased airstrikes. Currently, all advisories remain in effect—German citizens are advised to refrain from visiting the country.
The US State Department has updated its travel advisories for Ukraine and urged Americans to refrain from visiting the country due to the war and ongoing Russian strikes.
Specifically, the United States has maintained the highest, fourth-level travel advisory for Ukraine: Do Not Travel.
