News: Deadly clashes in Ukraine: UAE Nationals warned not to travel there

Ukraine’s presidential administration said that a preliminary agreement to bring an end to the political crisis that has rocked the country will be signed later in the day, but Western diplomats involved in talks were more cautious. Ukraine slid deeper into turmoil Thursday as dozens of protesters were killed amid pitched battles in the center of the capital.

President Viktor Yanukovych, under heavy Western pressure to call early elections, reached out to Russia as his grip on parts of the country appeared to weaken. As sirens wailed through Kiev's narrow streets, top European diplomats shuttled between Mr. Yanukovych and opposition leaders late into the night, pushing for fresh elections to pull the country back from the brink.

Ambulances ferried dead and wounded to hospitals after a truce that had been declared Wednesday night fell apart hours later. At a makeshift medical center inside a cathedral, some two dozen doctors from across the country treated those they could as a steady stream of cars delivered medicine, food and other supplies. 

Medics working with the opposition said that most of the casualties were civilians, clad in motorcycle helmets and carrying homemade shields fashioned from wood and metal, apparently shot by snipers. Several corpses, some covered in sheets, others in Ukrainian flags, were laid out on Kiev's main street and in the lobby of a downtown hotel, which served as a first-aid station and a morgue.

The death toll for the week climbed to 77, according to the government; opposition representatives put it at more than 100. Ukraine's Interior Ministry said 16 police officers were among the dead.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has told UAE nationals not to travel to Ukraine at this time because of the volatile security situation there.

Abdullah Mohammad Bin Butti Al Hamed, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, added that the UAE citizens that are currently in Ukraine must stay away from areas where there are gatherings and demonstrations. He also stressed the importance of getting in touch with the country’s embassy in Kiev to facilitate their departure.

The numbers for the embassy are 00380939752949 and 024449600 (operations room).

He added that the warning is the result of the ministry’s keenness on the safety of UAE citizens abroad. He also asked for full commitment from UAE citizen to pay heed to the decision until further notice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.