<p>Donald Trump's outgoing administration is planning to close the two remaining US consulates in Russia, media reports said Friday, as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office amid high tensions with Moscow.</p>.<p>The US will close its consulate in the far eastern city of Vladivostok and suspend operations at its post in Yekaterinburg, <em>CNN</em> reported, citing a December 10 letter sent to Congress from the State Department.</p>.<p>The move comes in "response to ongoing staffing challenges for the US Mission in Russia in the wake of the 2017 Russian-imposed personnel cap on the US Mission and the resultant impasse with Russia over diplomatic visas," the report said, citing the letter.</p>.<p>Ten diplomats assigned to the consulates will reportedly be relocated to the US embassy in Moscow, while 33 local staff will lose their jobs.</p>.<p>"No action related to the Russian consulates in the United States is planned," <em>CNN</em> cited the letter as saying.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/mike-pompeo-says-russia-pretty-clearly-behind-major-cyberattack-929150.html">Mike Pompeo says Russia 'pretty clearly' behind major cyberattack</a></strong></p>.<p>The closures would leave the embassy in Moscow as the United States' last diplomatic mission in Russia.</p>.<p>In March 2018 Moscow ordered the closure of the US consulate in St Petersburg amid a diplomatic spat sparked by the poisoning of Sergei Skripal on UK soil.</p>.<p>It was unclear whether the closures would happen before January 20, when President-elect Biden takes office.</p>.<p><em>AFP</em> reached out to the State Department for comment on the report, but did not receive a response.</p>.<p>On Friday Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Russia was "pretty clearly" behind a devastating cyberattack on several US government agencies that security experts say could allow attackers unfettered access to critical IT systems and electric power grids.</p>.<p>Yohannes Abraham, executive director for the Biden transition team, said the hack was of "great concern" and that under the new administration cyber attacks would meet a response inflicting "substantial cost."</p>.<p>Russia has denied any involvement in the cyberattacks.</p>
<p>Donald Trump's outgoing administration is planning to close the two remaining US consulates in Russia, media reports said Friday, as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office amid high tensions with Moscow.</p>.<p>The US will close its consulate in the far eastern city of Vladivostok and suspend operations at its post in Yekaterinburg, <em>CNN</em> reported, citing a December 10 letter sent to Congress from the State Department.</p>.<p>The move comes in "response to ongoing staffing challenges for the US Mission in Russia in the wake of the 2017 Russian-imposed personnel cap on the US Mission and the resultant impasse with Russia over diplomatic visas," the report said, citing the letter.</p>.<p>Ten diplomats assigned to the consulates will reportedly be relocated to the US embassy in Moscow, while 33 local staff will lose their jobs.</p>.<p>"No action related to the Russian consulates in the United States is planned," <em>CNN</em> cited the letter as saying.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/mike-pompeo-says-russia-pretty-clearly-behind-major-cyberattack-929150.html">Mike Pompeo says Russia 'pretty clearly' behind major cyberattack</a></strong></p>.<p>The closures would leave the embassy in Moscow as the United States' last diplomatic mission in Russia.</p>.<p>In March 2018 Moscow ordered the closure of the US consulate in St Petersburg amid a diplomatic spat sparked by the poisoning of Sergei Skripal on UK soil.</p>.<p>It was unclear whether the closures would happen before January 20, when President-elect Biden takes office.</p>.<p><em>AFP</em> reached out to the State Department for comment on the report, but did not receive a response.</p>.<p>On Friday Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Russia was "pretty clearly" behind a devastating cyberattack on several US government agencies that security experts say could allow attackers unfettered access to critical IT systems and electric power grids.</p>.<p>Yohannes Abraham, executive director for the Biden transition team, said the hack was of "great concern" and that under the new administration cyber attacks would meet a response inflicting "substantial cost."</p>.<p>Russia has denied any involvement in the cyberattacks.</p>