The statement, published on the Ministry's website on Thursday, states that "the Foreign Ministry recommends that Ukrainian citizens planning trips to the Russian Federation realistically assess risks and dangers and carefully weigh the need for such travel."
Independent Russian newspaper Vzglyad notes that the Ministry may have issued the statement as a result of last week's detention by Moscow police of Odessa Regional Council Head Oleksiy Goncharenko during a march commemorating the death of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov.
Goncharenko was detained by police for several hours before being released and leaving Russia. The Ukrainian politician has been suspected of organizing and actively participating in the events of May 2, 2014 in Odessa in which dozens of anti-Maidan activists, including a Russian citizen, were killed in the House of Trade Unions building. Commissioner of Human Rights, and organizer of the 'White Book' on politically motivated crime and violence in post-Maidan Ukraine, Konstantin Dolgov called for Goncharenko's arrest and trial for his alleged involvement in the May 2 events.