The U.S. is telling American citizens to leave Russia immediately and not travel to the country due to security risks as Russia’s war with Ukraine continues.
“Do not travel to Russia due to the unpredictable consequences of the unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the potential for harassment and the singling out of U.S. citizens for detention by Russian government security officials, the arbitrary enforcement of local law, limited flights into and out of Russia, the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, and the possibility of terrorism,” an advisory from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow reads. “U.S. citizens residing or travelling in Russia should depart immediately. Exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions.”
The embassy also warned dual US-Russian citizens to stay away from the country as “Russia may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals’ U.S. citizenship, deny their access to U.S. consular assistance, subject them to mobilization, prevent their departure from Russia, and/or conscript them.”
The Kremlin dismissed calls for Americans to leave the country as “not new,” according to Reuters.
The warning comes as Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine nears its one year anniversary on Feb. 24.
