The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a stark warning to its citizens advising against travel to the United States and other Western countries, citing heightened risks amid deteriorating relations, Al Jazeera reports.
Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the situation as “perilous,” stating that US-Russia relations are “on the verge of rupture.”
Zakharova specifically cautioned Russians against traveling to the US, Canada, and US allies within the European Union, referring to these nations as American “satellites.” She claimed that Russian citizens could face potential “hunting” by authorities in these countries.
This warning comes as tensions between Moscow and Washington reach levels unseen since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, largely fueled by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Both countries accuse each other of detaining citizens on fabricated charges.
The US, Ukraine’s largest military supplier, has provided over $62 billion in military aid since the start of the war in 2022. This assistance, despite US claims of non-direct involvement in the conflict, has been a major point of contention with Russia. Last month’s authorization by the US for Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike deep within Russia further escalated tensions, prompting Moscow to lower its nuclear threshold. Russia has also vehemently criticized a recent $20 billion US loan to Ukraine, backed by seized Russian assets, describing it as a scheme to prolong the conflict.
Zakharova denounced the loan, calling it a “manic desire to prolong the agony” of the Ukrainian government. The US, meanwhile, maintains its own travel advisory warning US citizens against traveling to Russia due to the potential for harassment, detention, and arbitrary enforcement of laws based on nationality.
The heightened tensions are underscored by recent prisoner exchanges. In August, Russia released three US citizens, including journalist Evan Gershkovich, in a Turkey-mediated swap.
The latest news in your social feeds
Subscribe to our social media platforms to stay tuned