Russia to 'optimize' diplomatic staff numbers in Ukraine

Russia says it has decided to "optimize" the staff of its diplomatic missions in Ukraine, amid potential provocations by Kiev and its allies.

“Fearing possible provocations by the Kiev regime or third countries, we have decided to optimize the Russian diplomatic staff present in Ukraine,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on Saturday. She said the embassy and consulates will keep performing their key functions.

Considering the substantial influence that Washington and London have on Kiev, Zakharova added it can be concluded that the US and Britain "know about some violent acts being prepared in Ukraine that can considerably complicate the security situation."

The Russian embassy in Kiev had earlier said it was considering the temporary departure from Ukraine of its nonessential staff.

The United States and some of its allies have already called on their citizens to leave Ukraine, raising the alarm about an imminent invasion by Russia despite Moscow's denials.

US, allies urge citizens to leave Ukraine even as Kyiv calls for calm

The US and some of its allies have called on their citizens to leave Ukraine, raising the alarm about an imminent invasion by Russia despite Moscow

On Friday, Washington said the evacuation of its embassy from Kiev is underway. The diplomatic missions of various countries located in Ukraine have also been lately reporting that they are evacuating their staff from that country or are considering the possibility as tensions continue to escalate.

Relations between Russia and the West have hit a new low in recent weeks. The US and its NATO allies have over the past couple of months accused Moscow of massing troops near Ukraine's border for a possible invasion. Moscow rejects the allegation and insists that the deployments are defensive in nature.

The US military has put 8,500 troops on high alert for deployment to Eastern Europe to bolster the NATO presence in the region. The State Department has also approved shipments of US-made missiles and other weapons from NATO allies Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to Ukraine.

NATO members Britain and Poland have agreed to directly send arms to Ukraine, including handguns, ammunition, and anti-tank weapons.

The US and the European Union have threatened tough sanctions against the Kremlin in the event of an attack on or invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has repeatedly reiterated that the expansion of NATO military infrastructure in Ukraine is a red line for Moscow and that any future expansion must exclude Ukraine and other former Soviet countries.

Russia kicks off massive drills in Black Sea

Meanwhile, Russia has kicked off large-scale maneuvers in the Black Sea in defense of Crimea.

The press service of Russia’s Southern Military District announced in a statement on Saturday that over 30 ships from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet have left their home ports in Sevastopol and Novorossiysk for the drills.

The military said the objective of the exercises is "to defend the coast of the Crimean peninsula, the bases of the forces of the Black Sea fleet, as well as economic infrastructures from possible military threats."

Russian warships transiting Black Sea straits for massive naval drills

A Russian naval task force is reportedly heading from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea for maritime drills, amid a surge of tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine.

The warships involved in the drills include frigates, patrol and small missile ships, landing craft and small anti-submarine warfare ships, as well as demining vessels. Coastal defense troops and the fleet’s naval aviation are also taking part.

The exercises are part of a broader series of exercises being held in the winter months commanded by Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolai Evmenov and involving over 140 warships and support vessels, over 60 aircraft, one thousand units of military equipment and 10,000 personnel.

Crimea declared independence from Ukraine in March 2014, and formally applied to become part of Russia, following a referendum. That sparked tensions between Kiev and the West on the one side and Russia on the other.

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