Azerbaijan embassy issues safety advisory to citizens in Ukraine

The embassy of Azerbaijan in Ukraine has issued a statement urging its citizens residing in the country to take necessary precautions.

The embassy announced that, due to increased security risks, consular services will be unavailable on November 21-22, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

The statement calls on Azerbaijani nationals, both permanent and temporary residents in Ukraine, to take appropriate safety measures and follow the guidance of local authorities. Citizens are advised to seek shelter in accordance with air raid alerts.

The embassy also provided an emergency contact number, +380 95 056 95 57, for any urgent matters during this period when consular services are unavailable.

The US and several other Western embassies in Kyiv announced they would remain closed on November 20 due to security concerns. The American embassy indicated that it had received a warning of a potential large-scale Russian airstrike on the Ukrainian capital. This precautionary measure followed Russia's threat to retaliate against President Joe Biden's decision to allow Ukraine to target Russian soil with US-supplied missiles, a move that provoked anger from the Kremlin.

The US Embassy stated that its closure and the attack warning were a response to the ongoing Russian missile and drone assaults on Kyiv, with plans for a swift return to normal operations. 

The Italian and Greek embassies also closed to the public for the day, while the UK government confirmed its embassy remained open.

As the war marked its 1,000th day, it has evolved into a more global conflict with the arrival of North Korean troops to support Russia on the battlefield—a development that US officials indicated led to President Biden’s shift in policy.

By Naila Huseynova