Russian Diplomats Leave Ukraine

U.S. and Ukrainian officials watched from a distance as Russia surrendered its embassy in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, a week before fierce diplomatic negotiations over the buildup of Russian troops at the Ukrainian border began. According to Ukrainian security officials, on January 5, 18 people (mainly children and wives of Russian diplomats) boarded the bus and began a 15-hour drive home to Moscow. 

From consulates in Kiev and Lenberg in Western Ukraine, it appears that another 30 people followed in the next few days. Diplomats at the other two Russian consulates were instructed to prepare to leave Ukraine,  security officials said on anonymous terms. How to interpret the evacuation is part of the mystery in anticipating Vladimir Putin’s next play. Ukrainian and US officials say the reduction of the Russian embassy could be partly publicity, partly prepared for an upcoming conflict, or partly a ploy. It may even be all three.

These are more ominous data points, adding to last week's cyberattacks on Ukrainian ministries and reports from Microsoft and the U.S. government that much more destructive malware was injected into the Ukrainian network. A convoy of huge trains loaded with tanks, missiles and troops will push Russia further west, apparently on its way to  the border with Ukraine. Belarusian prestigious leader Alexander G. Lukashenko announced on Monday that Russian troops and equipment had arrived in his country to conduct joint military exercises in two locations. And along the Ukrainian border, it may prove to be another invasion route. The exercise has  a very American name: Allied Resolve. However, in Kiev, Ukrainian authorities fully hope that Russian troops deployed in Belarus for exercises will remain there indefinitely.