LOC09:24
06:24 GMT
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, ordered on Sunday the evacuation of his country's embassy in Ukrainian capital, Kiev, amidst fears of Russian invasion.
Morrison added that the three remaining employees at the embassy received instructions to leave as the situation grows more perilous, and urged Australian citizens to leave Ukraine at once, via statement conveyed by Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.
The Australian Prime Minister stated "I want to send a very clear message on behalf of Australia... that the autocratic, unilateral actions of Russia to be threatening and bullying Ukraine is something that is completely and utterly unacceptable".
In a press conference, Morrison called on China to speak up on the ongoing crisis, after China had criticized a meeting between the American, Australian, Japanese and Indian Foreign Ministers in Melbourne last week, commenting, "China remains chillingly silent on Russian troops amassing on the Ukrainian border".
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne indicated that operations in the embassy in Kiev has been suspended and a temporary office has been set up in Lviv, west of Ukraine and around 70 kilometers away from Ukrainian-Polish borders.
She further added that Australian citizens are advised to leave Ukraine at once as the situation deteriorates and military Russian action will strongly hinder consular assistance to Australians. (end)
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