The State Department warned U.S. citizens to depart Russia “immediately” Monday due to the ongoing war on Ukraine, risk of wrongful detention and “possibility of terrorism.”
“U.S. citizens residing or travelling in Russia should depart immediately. Exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions,” the State Department’s Russia travel advisory read.
Additional reasons to leave Russia include 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,” the advisory read. (RELATED: Brittney Griner Releases First Statement Since Being Traded For ‘Merchant Of Death’ Viktor Bout)
Dual U.S.-Russian nationals should be wary of being mobilized for the war, as Russia may not recognize “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 statement read.
TOPSHOT – Ukrainian service members collect unexploded shells after a fighting with Russian raiding group in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the morning of February 26, 2022, according to Ukrainian service personnel at the scene. – Ukrainian soldiers repulsed a Russian attack in the capital, the military said on February 26 after a defiant President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed his pro-Western country would not be bowed by Moscow. It started the third day since Russian leader Vladimir Putin unleashed a full-scale invasion that has killed dozens of people, forced more than 50,000 to flee Ukraine in just 48 hours and sparked fears of a wider conflict in Europe. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images)
American credit and debit cards no longer work in Russia and there are reports of cash shortages, according to the statement. There are also limited services at the U.S. embassy in Moscow due to Russian government limitations, and commercial flights are “extremely limited.”
If one does choose to travel to Russia, they should have a “contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance,” the statement read.
The State Department issued a statement in September warning U.S. citizens to leave Russia after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization.
Russia downplayed the newly-issued warning, pointing to the State Department’s past statements.
“They [warnings] have been voiced by the State Department many times in the last period, so this is not a new thing,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, Reuters reported.
A State Department spokesperson told the Daily Caller it “routinely updates our Travel Advisories and country-specific information for all countries based on a comprehensive review of all available safety information and ongoing developments.”
“The Department of State reissued the Travel Advisory for Russia with several updates, including to information regarding dual national military conscription, martial law in Russian areas bordering Ukraine, limitations on Embassy Moscow staff’s use of Russian airlines, and Russian legislative changes permitting prosecution of those who ‘discredit’ Russia or advocate for the rights of LGBTQI+ persons, and consular services in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine,” the State Department spokesperson said.
“We encourage U.S. citizens traveling overseas to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP.state.gov) so they can receive important messages about their destination(s) directly, including timely alerts and updates to Travel Advisories, and to enable the U.S. Embassy to assist in an emergency,” the spokesperson added.
