US tells Americans in Russia to leave ‘immediately’

Americans living in Russia need to get out now, while they still can. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow said U.S. citizens living or traveling in Russia should depart immediately and “exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions.”

According to a travel advisory posted to the embassy website, 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.”

Because of sanctions, U.S. credit and debit cards don’t work in Russia. It is extremely difficult to wire money into the country, and there is also a cash shortage in Russia.

The embassy advised commercial flight options for U.S. citizens are also limited, and suggested U.S. nationals in Russia should make independent arrangements to leave. The embassy said it has severe limitations on its ability to help U.S. citizens get out of the country, and transportation options may suddenly become “even more limited.”

The embassy said American citizens working in Russia are becoming victims of harassment, mistreatment and extortion. U.S. nationals who participated in political demonstrations in Russia have been targeted and arrested by local authorities, and American religious workers in Russia are also the subject of increased scrutiny with some being accused of acting as American spies.

In addition to threats from the Russian government, the U.S. Embassy said terrorist organizations operating in Russia could target tourist locations, transportation hubs, malls, hotels or other public places. Travel to the North Caucasus, including Chechnya, is “prohibited for U.S. government employees and strongly discouraged for U.S. citizens.”

The U.S. Embassy issued a similar advisory to Americans in Russia last fall, when Vladimir Putin announced the immediate conscription of 300,000 men to fight the war in Ukraine. Since then, the embassy said Russian security forces arrested Americans on “spurious charges…and convicted them in secret trials or without presenting credible evidence.”