Germany warns citizens against travel to Ukraine ahead of Independence Day
Germany's Foreign Ministry has updated its travel advice, urging citizens not to travel to Ukraine in the near future amid a heightened risk of attacks before the 24 August Independence Day. The warning cites near-daily Russian strikes across the country.
Germany's Ministry of Foreign Affairs updated its travel guidance for Ukraine on 15 August, advising German citizens against travelling there in the near future, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing the ministry and European Pravda.
The ministry noted that fighting continues across Ukraine, with Russian airstrikes involving missiles, cruise missiles and drones occurring almost daily and potentially affecting any part of the country. It added that ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day on 24 August 2026, an intensification of strikes on infrastructure — including energy facilities and transport hubs — as well as civilian targets cannot be ruled out.
Context
The advisory comes amid growing international concern over the scale of Russian attacks. In early August, the EU's ambassador to Ukraine said Russia was using relentless ballistic missile strikes in an attempt to break Kyiv, warning that such attacks must not become seen as "normal."
Separately, on 5 August, Latvia's Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said she had spent the previous night sheltering in Kyiv and offered condolences to Ukrainians who had lost loved ones during that night's attacks.
