The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has recommended that Ukrainian citizens refrain from traveling to Russia for the finals of the 2018 World Cup (to be held from June 14 to July 15) due to a high personal safety risk.

"The stay of Ukrainian citizens on Russian territory is associated with serious threats to personal safety. Russian law enforcement agencies and punitive agencies resort to detentions and charges of espionage or terrorist activities, carrying out other provocative actions against Ukrainians," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

It noted that Russia resorts to the shameful practice of restricting or denying access for consuls and lawyers to detained Ukrainian citizens, and the possibility of consular protection of Ukrainians in the territory of the aggressor country is now limited.

"The incitement of anti-Ukrainian sentiments by the Kremlin propaganda forces is an additional risk factor for the stay of Ukrainian citizens on the territory of the Russian Federation. Any demonstration of belonging to Ukraine can provoke purposeful aggression on the part of Russian fan groups, most of whom do not hide their hostile attitude towards Ukrainians," the statement says.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also called on foreign partners to "politically boycott the final part" of the World Cup in Russia.

"We believe that the refusal to send official delegations to the Russian Federation will be an important demonstration of international solidarity in the rejection of the aggressive policy of the Russian Federation and the commission of crimes against human rights," diplomats said.

The Foreign Ministry's statement provides the contact details of the embassies and consulates of Ukraine in Russia, which should be addressed in case of an urgent trip to Russia and the emergence of circumstances requiring an immediate consular response.