State Department orders families of U.S. Embassy personnel in Kiev to prepare for evacuation

The State Department has ordered family members of U.S. embassy personnel in Kiev, Ukraine, to prepare for evacuation as the threat of a Russian invasion into that country appears to be growing by the day. 

The department "has ordered families of U.S. Embassy personnel in Ukraine to begin evacuating the country as soon as Monday," Fox News reported on Saturday, citing "U.S. officials."

State officials are also reportedly expected to begin directing Americans to leave the country via international flights by next week. 

World tensions have been ratcheting up in recent weeks as Russia appears increasingly likely to send troops across the Ukrainian border as part of a major invasion maneuver. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin is angry over neighboring Ukraine's efforts to join the North Atlantic Treat Organization, or NATO.

The Kremlin reportedly has tens of thousands of troops positioned at the Ukrainian border in southeast Russia.