US urges citizens to leave Russia immediately

The US State Department has once again updated its travel guidance, strongly urging American citizens to leave Russia immediately and avoid all travel to the country.

The advisory cites a range of concerns, including potential legal risks and significantly reduced access to consular services, Caliber.Az reports, citing the US State Department.

Washington recommends that citizens use available commercial routes to exit Russia, noting that the urgency is also driven by financial challenges resulting from earlier Western sanctions affecting bank cards and electronic transfers.

The US Department of State keeps Russia at the highest travel advisory level (“Level 4: Do Not Travel”), citing heightened risks to Americans from the ongoing war in Ukraine, potential harassment or wrongful detention by Russian authorities, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, and possible terrorist threats.

The advisory also notes that the US government’s capacity to assist its citizens inside Russia is severely limited because most US consular services have been suspended, and embassy staffing is reduced, leaving travellers with little backup in emergencies.

Sanctions and geopolitical tensions have disrupted commercial services: bank cards issued in the US often don’t work in Russia, and flights into and out of the country are limited, which complicates efforts to leave quickly.

By Jeyhun Aghazada