Brazil urged this Saturday to its citizens in Ukraine to leave the Russian-backed breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk amid growing ceasefire violations and fears of a Russian invasion.
“In the context of an increase in violations of the ceasefire registered in eastern Ukraine, the Brazilian embassy in Kyiv recommends Brazilians in the country to redouble their precautions and avoid visiting the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk,” said the Brazilian embassy in the former Soviet republic.
“We advise citizens already in those regions to consider leaving without delay,” the embassy added.
The volatile front between the Ukrainian army and the rebels in these two breakaway regions has seen a “dramatic increase” in ceasefire violations, international monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said on Saturday.
Kiev has been locked in conflict with Moscow-backed rebels for almost eight years.
The United States assured that Russia has accumulated more than 150,000 soldiers on the border with Ukraine, and warns that the Russian president Vladimir Putin is planning an imminent invasion.
Brazil’s foreign minister did not immediately respond to questions about how many Brazilians were currently in Ukraine.
Brazil maintains a reduced diplomatic presence in the country. The embassy, which also covers neighboring Moldova, has eight officials, including the ambassador, according to its website.
Both countries did $111 million in bilateral trade in 2019.
