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The information board in the departures hall of Donetsk’s Sergei Prokofiev Airport showed a number of cancelled flights to destinations including Moscow, Munich and Istanbul.

The red, blue and black flag of the “Donetsk People’s Republic,” established by pro-Russian activists in this region, flew over the hall. The airport later announced normal services had been resumed from 3:30 p.m.

Mr. Steinmeier said the bloodshed in Ukraine’s port city of Odessa, in which at least 40 died Friday, had been a turning point.

“The bloody pictures from Odessa have shown us that we are just a few steps away from a military confrontation,” he said.

The situation had already escalated in a way “that a short time ago we would not have considered possible,” the German foreign minister added. His ministry urged all Germans to “leave” Ukraine’s eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.

“Checkpoints and roadblocks were erected in these regions, which are operated by irregular armed forces,” read the advice.

“In the light of recent developments, it must be assumed that the media will run special risk of being detained or arrested by separatist forces.”

Germany has close economic ties with Ukraine and a respected network of diplomatic contacts.

So far, Canada has not urged its citizens to leave the east. Instead, it is advising “against all travel to the towns of Slovyansk, Kostyantinivka, Kramatorsk and Horlivka, in the Donetsk Oblast, due to the tenuous security situation.”