Diplomatic ties with Russia ruptured without breaking off consular ties - Ukrainian Foreign Ministry

KYIV. Feb 24 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has begun the procedure of rupturing diplomatic relations with Russia on the order of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"Ukraine is rupturing diplomatic relations with Russia without breaking off consular relations in line with Article 2 of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service said in a statement.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also recalled Ukrainian Charge d'Affaires ad interim Vasyl Pokotylo for consultations to Kyiv and started to evacuate the Ukrainian embassy in Moscow.

Ukraine's consular establishments in Russia have continued working as usual.