KIEV, February 19. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian diplomats in Ukraine have urged Russian citizens to avoid areas of rioting, the embassy in the capital, Kiev, reported on Wednesday.

“The Russian embassy in Ukraine recommends insistently again that Russian citizens staying in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities where clashes between rioters and local law enforcement agencies are in progress should stay away from riot areas,” the embassy press service said.

Deputy Head of Ukraine's Interior Ministry investigation service Oleg Tatarov told Itar-Tass that 24 people had died and 751 were wounded in central Kiev riots.