Russia has decided to "optimize" its diplomatic staff numbers in Ukraine, fearing "provocations" by Kyiv or other parties, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, said on Saturday.

The embassy and consulates in Ukraine will keep fulfilling their main tasks, Zakharova added.

The spokesperson also said that Western media reports about Russia pulling out its diplomats from Ukraine’s Kyiv are fake and were used as a pretext for the West to withdraw its diplomats.

(With input from agencies)