The US Department of State has put Russia, Turkey and Ukraine on its first list of 35 countries, where, it maintains, American citizens may face the risk of being kidnapped, TASS reported.

A statement circulated on Tuesday speaks of "the risks of kidnapping and hostage taking by criminal and terrorist elements."

"The new "K" indicator is part of our ongoing commitment to providing clear and comprehensive travel safety information to US citizens so they can make informed travel decisions," it said.

Apart from Russia, the new list includes, in particular, Afghanistan, Angola, Venezuela, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Colombia, Mexico, Nigeria, Syria, Turkey, the Philippines, Uganda and Ethiopia among others. Besides, it also lists Ukraine though specifically indicating the "Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine".

According to the Washington Examiner, the new warning label was issued after Sue Endicott, an American tourist, had been abducted in Uganda last week. She was traveling through a national park along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The abductors demanded a $500,000 ransom. On April 7, US President Donald Trump said the tourist had been released.