State Department tells U.S. citizens to leave Belarus and Transnistria 'immediately'

The State Department on Monday told U.S. citizens in Belarus and Moldova's unrecognized breakaway state of Transnistria to "depart immediately via commercial or private means."

Both countries are at travel advisory Level 4, the highest possible. 

The State Department warns U.S. citizens to not travel to Belarus due to "arbitrary enforcement of laws, the risk of detention, unusual and concerning Russian military buildup along Belarus’ border with Ukraine, COVID-19 and related entry restrictions."

Americans are warned to not travel to Moldova due to "COVID-19, the unusual and concerning Russian military activity around Ukraine, and the unresolved conflict between the breakaway region of Transnistria and the central government."

Transnistria is on the southwest border of Ukraine. The region has been described as where the Soviet Union and Communism "never died."

Late last month, the State Department ordered the evacuation of family members of U.S. diplomats from the embassy in Minsk.

The department on Monday also announced plans to relocate the U.S. embassy in Kyiv to Lviv in western Ukraine.

The State Department last week urged U.S. citizens in Ukraine "to depart now," warning that the U.S. government would be unable to evacuate American citizens in the event of Russian military action.