THE SLOVAK Information Service (SIS) intelligence agency has issued a warning for Slovaks against travelling to the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, the TASR newswire reported on August 6.
The SIS noted the unstable political and security situation in these areas. There are still armed conflicts between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian armed forces, especially in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The International Committee of the Red Cross has even called the situation a war.
The conflicts and intense clashes have already resulted in the deaths of many civilians, as well as abductions, violent take-overs of buildings and other dangerous and tragic incidents, including the downing of the Malaysia Airline plane on July 17. Moreover, Donetsk may face an ecological catastrophe after explosions and fighting damaged the supplies of a local chemical plant, as reported by TASR.
If Slovaks decide to travel to eastern and southern Ukraine despite these warnings, the SIS recommends they avoid areas where conflicts are taking place, and in case of emergency seek out any Slovak representation office or embassy in Ukraine, or the embassy of any other EU member state.
The SIS has also warned Slovaks against so-called adrenaline or adventure tourism in the critical areas, since it may pose a risk to their health or their lives, TASR wrote.
In addition to Ukraine, the SIS does not recommend travelling to Afghanistan, Algeria, Ethiopia, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Kenya, Libya, Gaza Strip, parts of Egypt, Pakistan and Syria.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
