Australians told to reconsider travel to Ukraine as unrest deepens after Russia sends in troops

AUSTRALIANS planning to visit Ukraine have been warned to “reconsider their need to travel” as the threat of armed conflict deepens.

AUSTRALIANS planning to visit Ukraine have been warned to “reconsider their need to travel” as the threat of armed conflict deepens after Russia sent in troops.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) today stepped up its travel advice for the eastern European country, raising it to the second highest level, below “do not travel”

Ukrainians stand guard at the Belbek military base in Lubimovka, Ukraine.

“Due to the volatile situation in Ukraine, escalating tensions, and the risk of violence, we have increased the overall level of our advice,” DFAT said.

“We continue to advise Australians not to travel to Crimea due to the potential for violence.”

DFAT said Australians should avoid all demonstrations or large public gatherings as even peaceful protests could turn violent.

The security situation in Ukraine has deteriorated since the overthrow of president Viktor Yanukovych last month, with the country’s new government claiming 16,000 Russian troops have been deployed to the Crimea region in what it says amounts to a de facto invasion.

A Ukrainian soldier stands behind a fence while unidentified armed men block the headquarters of the Ukrainian Navy in Sevastopol.

Moscow says it has acted because it might be forced to protect ethnic Russians in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott today described Russia as a “bully”.

Mr Abbott said the situation was “fluid and dangerous” but he hoped Russia and Ukraine’s new West-leaning government would pull back from the brink of war.

“Really, the only way to resolve it is for Russia to pull back, for Russia to stop what appears to be a blatant aggression against a neighbour that has done nothing to justify it,” he said on Channel 9.

Asked if Australia would contribute to any intervention force, Mr Abbott said: “I think we’re a long way away from that and I don’t want to make a difficult situation worse by engaging in alarmist speculation.”

Vladimir Putin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu arrive to watch military exercises at the Kirillovsky firing ground in the Leningrad region as tensions rise in the Ukraine.