Ukraine will not leave unanswered the reduction of the staff of the Ukrainian embassy in Minsk and the closure of the consulate of Ukraine in Brest, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA) Oleh Nikolenko has said.

"We consider such actions of Belarus as another unprovoked unfriendly step towards Ukraine. Ukraine will not leave Belarus's actions without a proper response, which we will report additionally," Nikolenko told Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.

He said that after the withdrawal of certain Ukrainian diplomats, the Ukrainian Embassy in Minsk will operate in a reduced staff, headed by Ambassador Ihor Kyzym.

"Our diplomats will have enough opportunities to continue providing consular assistance to Ukrainian citizens in Belarus," the spokesperson said.

As reported, the Belarusian side announced a reduction in the staff of the Ukrainian embassy in Minsk and the closure of the Ukrainian consulate in Brest. Some 12 Ukrainian diplomats were ordered to leave the territory of Belarus within 72 hours.