The U.S. Embassy in Belarus has urged all U.S. citizens in the country to “depart immediately” – and not to go to neighboring Russia or Ukraine.
Americans who may have been planning to travel to Belarus are instructed not to do so, “due to Belarusian authorities’ continued facilitation of Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the potential of civil unrest, the risk of detention, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus.”
Led by Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarus is officially not a party the war in Ukraine – but it was used as a staging ground by Russian forces during the early stages of the invasion, and now hosts Wagner Group mercenaries who departed Russia following an abortive march on Moscow.
It has been targeted by Western sanctions along with Russia, and Vladimir Putin moved nuclear weapons into the country in June. Lukashenko vowed to use these weapons in the event of foreign “aggression” last week.
