Russia Warns Citizens Against Travel To US, Western Nations

Russia has issued a caution to its citizens against traveling to the United States and other Western nations, alleging that they risk being “targeted” by authorities in those countries.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered the warning during a press briefing on Wednesday, citing strained relations with the U.S. as a potential danger for Russian travellers.

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“Trips to the United States of America privately or out of official necessity are fraught with serious risks,” she said, describing US-Russia relations as “on the verge of rupture”.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, extended her travel advisory to include Canada and the European Union, describing these nations as “US satellites.” She warned Russians against visiting these countries, citing perceived risks tied to their alignment with Washington.

The United States has similarly warned its citizens against traveling to Russia, citing potential risks of harassment, detention by security officials, or arbitrary enforcement of local laws targeting Americans.

Diplomatic relations between Moscow and Washington have reached their lowest point since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, with the ongoing war in Ukraine further straining ties.

The United States has emerged as Ukraine’s primary supporter, providing $62 billion in military aid since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Recent developments include the U.S. authorizing the use of long-range tactical missiles by Ukraine, enabling strikes deep within Russian territory. The move, a pivotal moment in the conflict, angered Moscow and prompted it to lower its nuclear-use threshold.

Russia has also expressed strong opposition to a $20 billion U.S. loan to Ukraine, which is to be backed by profits from seized Russian assets.

“This is a manic desire to prolong the agony of the Kyiv regime, [Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy] himself and all these corrupt deals that the [US President Joe] Biden regime created around the situation in Ukraine,” Zakharova told Russian media.

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Both Moscow and Washington have accused each other of detaining citizens on fabricated charges without merit.

In August, Russia released three U.S. citizens, including journalist Evan Gershkovich, as part of a broad prisoner exchange mediated by Turkey between Russia and Western nations.

As part of the agreement, the U.S. released Vladislav Klyushin, a Russian businessman convicted in a “hack-to-trade” fraud scheme, Roman Seleznev, the son of a Russian legislator imprisoned for his role in a cyberattack, and Vadim Konoshchenok, a Russian security official who was arrested in Estonia and subsequently extradited to the U.S.

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