Canada advises its citizens to leave Ukraine

The Canadian Foreign Ministry has advised its citizens to leave Ukraine if their presence is not mandatory due to the threat of military action.

That's according to an updated statement posted on the ministry's official website, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Avoid non-essential travel to Ukraine due to ongoing Russian threats and military buildup in and around the country. If you are in Ukraine, you should evaluate if your presence is essential," the statement reads.

Canadian nationals were also advised to avoid all travel to Crimea and non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as the ability to provide consular assistance to Canadians there is extremely limited.

op