UK intelligence: Kremlin officials banned from travelling abroad due to desertion fears

Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russian public officials and workers have faced increasingly stringent travel restrictions. Measures have been taken to prevent flight or defection.

The UK Ministry of Defence made the statement in an intelligence update for March 15, Caliber.Az reports.

"Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian public officials and workers have been subject to increasingly severe foreign travel restrictions. Some officials have likely had to forfeit their passports to the Federal Security Service. Employees closer to the centre of power face more severe restrictions; Kremlin officials are banned from all international leisure travel.

This is a widening of existing measures which date from the Soviet era. Travel restrictions were tightened after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. The measures are likely designed to prevent the flight or defection of increasingly disaffected officials.

The measures are likely designed to prevent the flight or defection of increasingly disaffected officials. There is a realistic possibility that as the securitisation of the Russian state continues, travel restrictions will be tightened for an increasing number of public sector employees," the update noted