(FCDO) continues to advise British nationals against all travel to the whole of Russia. Russia’sOn ongoing24 invasionJune 2023 there were reports that forces under the control of UkraineYevgeniy meansPrigozhin, leader of the situationWagner Group Private Military Company (PMC), had occupied Rostov-on-Don in Russiasouthern isRussia. unpredictable.There Thiswere includes:

• securityreports incidents,of suchfighting asin dronethe attacks,Rostov happeningand Voronezh regions, and restrictions imposed in somea number of parts of the country
• country. Whilst road-traffic restrictions have now reportedly been lifted, it remains unclear how long any other restrictions imposed will remain. Additionally, there is a lack of available flightsflight options to return to the UK
• aUK.

  If limitedyour abilitypresence forin HMGRussia tois providenot consularessential, assistance

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. Consular support is also severely limited where FCDO advises against travel.

Situation

British nationals in Russia

The Russianshould invasionexercise ofextreme Ukrainecaution isat ongoing.all Internationaltimes and domesticconsider the responserisks toif thisthey actiondecide to isleave affectingRussia conditionsby any route. Travel within Russiaor andout forof thoseRussia travelingis toat Russia.your Thereown haverisk.

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PoliticalOn rallies24 andFebruary demonstrations2022, canRussia occurlaunched ina Moscow,large Stscale Petersburginvasion andof otherUkraine placeswhich acrossis Russia.ongoing. CheckInternational theand localdomestic mediaresponse forto thethis latestaction information,is beaffecting vigilant,conditions within Russia and avoidfor anythose politicaltraveling demonstrationsto orRussia gatherings.

Considerin leavinga Russia

IfOn your24 presenceJune in2023 Russiathere iswere notreports essential,that weforces stronglyunder advisethe thatcontrol youof considerYevgeniy leavingPrigozhin, byleader remainingof commercialthe routes.

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IfTravel youwithin chooseand toout stayof in Russia

If you decideare in Russia, it is not possible to remainfly indirectly Russia,to youthe should:

• keepUK, youror departurevia plansEU undercountries. constantCheck review
• ensurethe latest information with your airline or travel documentsprovider. areConnecting upflights, tolargely date
• monitorvia the localMiddle media
• stayEast, alertSerbia toand securityTurkey warningsare andoperational followfor thetravel advicefrom ofRussia localto authories
• seekthe coverUK insideand buildingsother ordestinations. undergroundHowever, passagethe ways,situation is uncertain and avoidmay glazedchange areasat inshort anotice droneor attack
• sign-upflights tomay emailsell alertsout forquickly. Travel within Russia travelis advice.

ReadIn FCDOMay advice2022, onthe whatUK togovernment dodesignated ifAeroflot, you’reRossiya affectedAirlines, byUral aAirlines crisisand abroadRussian andRailways howfor tothe prepare.

Travelpurposes withinof UK sanctions. This means that British nationals and outothers ofwho Russia

Youare cannotbound flyby UK sanctions are prohibited from Russiaentering directlyinto totransactions thewhich UK,result in making funds directly or viaindirectly EUavailable countries.to Therethese arecompanies, connectingsuch flightsas purchasing tickets from Russiathem. viaHowever, the MiddleOffice East,for SerbiaFinancial andSanctions TurkeyImplementation tohas theissued UKa andgeneral otherlicence which destinations.means However,that thisfor couldjourneys changeoriginating atin, short notice or flightswithin, mightRussia, sellBritish outnationals quickly.may Checkpurchase thetickets latestfrom informationthese withcompanies yourwithout airlinebreaching orUK travel provider.sanctions.

Restrictions inand RussiaSanctions

There are severe restrictions on the publishing and distribution of information related to the Russian armed forces and any military operations. People charged under these laws face heavy sentences. See IT and social media on the Local laws and customs page.

International sanctions against Russia

The UK government has imposed sanctions against a numberrange of Russian companies and individuals asand wellimposed as other finance, trade and transport sanctions.sanctions in relation to Russia. These sanctions may have an effect on transactions inin, or,or withconnected with, Russia. More information about Russia sanctions is available on GOV.UK including on the application of sanctions prohibitions and requirements to British nationals.

MasterCard and Visa have suspended operations in Russia. This means that MasterCard and Visa cards issued outside of Russia will not work at Russian merchants or ATMs. Cards issued inside Russia continue to work in Russia but they will not work outside of Russia. Be aware that it may not be possible for you to access your funds through Russian banks or to make payments to Russian businesses with non-Russian credit/debit cards.

InOn May21 September 2022, theRussia UKdeclared governmenta designated“partial” Aeroflot,mobilisation Rossiyaof Airlines,Russian Uralcitizens Airlinesto andjoin the military forces. British nationals holding Russian Railwayspassports should be aware that they may be in scope for mobilisation or conscription, as the purposesRussian ofgovernment UKdoes sanctions.not Thisrecognise meansdual thatnationality Britishfor Russian nationals in Russia and otherstreats whodual arenationals boundas byRussian UKnationals.

On sanctions24 areJune prohibited2023 fromthere enteringwere intoreports transactionsthat whichforces resultunder inthe makingcontrol fundsof directlyYevgeniy orPrigozhin, indirectlyleader availableof tothe theseWagner companies,Group suchPrivate asMilitary purchasingCompany tickets(PMC), fromhad them.occupied However,Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia. There were reports of fighting in the OfficeRostov forand FinancialVoronezh Sanctionsregions, Implementationand hasrestrictions issuedimposed in a generalnumber licenceof whichparts meansof thatthe forcountry. journeysWhilst originatingroad-traffic in,restrictions orhave within,now Russia,reportedly Britishbeen nationalslifted, mayit purchaseremains ticketsunclear fromhow theselong companiesany withoutother breachingrestrictions UKimposed sanctions.will remain.

HelpSituation andwithin supportRussia

There forhave Britishbeen nationalsnumerous inreports Russia

Theof Britishdrone Embassyattacks, explosions and fires in Moscowareas isin open,Western butand Southern Russia, particularly near the Russian border with Ukraine and including Moscow and St Petersburg. The wider situation remains unpredictable, and could changeescalate atfurther shortwithout notice.warning.

Political Werallies mayand bedemonstrations restrictedcan occur in Moscow, St Petersburg and other places across Russia. Check the consularlocal supportmedia wefor canthe providelatest in-personinformation, inbe country.vigilant, and avoid any demonstrations or large gatherings which may be considered political. See Political situation

ConsularThere supportare isreports severelyof limitedincreased inpolice partspresence ofand RussiaID duechecks. toYou theshould securitykeep situationyour passport with you at all times. See Safety and thesecurity

Short-term sizetravel ofrestrictions theare country,sometimes particularlyapplied in therelation Northto Caucasus.ongoing security operations. These are publicised at very short notice, if at all. See Local travel

Consular Assistance

If you need consular assistance,assistance call the British Embassy Moscow +7 495 956 7200 and then select the option for consular assistance. Phone lines are answered 24 hours a day.

You can contact the Russian emergency services onby calling 112.

Dual Nationals

DualThe British-RussianBritish nationalsEmbassy willin beMoscow treatedremains asopen, Russianbut nationalsthe bysituation themay Russianchange authorities.at Theshort notice and we may be restricted in the consular support we can provide willin-person bein severelycountry. limited.Consular Ifsupport youis areseverely arrestedlimited orin detainedparts weof areRussia unlikelydue to getthe authorisationsecurity fromsituation and the size of the country. The North Caucasus remains an unstable and potentially dangerous region. Russian authorities totake providea consularparticularly support.strict attitude towards security, as well as compliance with visa and registration rules.

InFurther 2022,advice Russiaon declaredwhat to do in a “partial”crisis mobilisationsituation is available here.

The UK does not recognise Crimea, the so-called ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’, the so-called ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’, and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions as being part of RussianRussia. citizensSee the travel advice for Ukraine for details.

It is more important than ever to joinget travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the militaryFCDO’s forces.guidance Britishon nationalsforeign holdingtravel Russianinsurance.

Terrorists passportsare couldvery belikely to try to carry out attacks in scopeRussia. forSee mobilisationTerrorism.

Small orearth conscription.tremors are recorded throughout the year without consequences. To learn more about what to do before, during and after an earthquake, see the website of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency.