The US government is tightening its travel warning because of the Ukraine war. Americans should leave Russia “immediately”. Great Britain also recommends compatriots to leave the country.
Because of the war in Ukraine, the US government has further tightened its travel warning for Russia and called on all American citizens to leave the country immediately. “US citizens should leave Russia immediately,” the State Department said in Washington on Saturday. There are still limited flight options. Overland routes are still open. In the previous travel warning last Monday, the US government called on Americans to “consider” leaving Russia immediately.
The British Foreign Office had previously recommended that compatriots in Russia leave the country. “If your presence in Russia is not absolutely necessary, we strongly recommend that you consider leaving the country via the remaining commercial channels,” the ministry’s website said on Saturday.
US Department warns of harassment
The ministry warned that US citizens could face harassment by the security forces in Russia, and that the embassy there could only provide limited support in emergencies. The US Embassy in Moscow invited Americans in Russia to a virtual gathering with Ambassador John Sullivan next Wednesday. Sullivan will answer questions “given the rapidly evolving situation as a result of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine,” the invitation said.
The US State Department’s travel advisory has four tiers. The fourth level “Do not travel” (English: “Do not travel”) corresponds approximately to a German travel warning. It applied to Russia even before the most recent call to leave the country.
