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Security in Russia: Essential Travel Assessment
Operating in Russia? Speak with a security consultant.
Russia remains a significant economy and a country with which many international businesses maintain legacy relationships, investments, or operational requirements. FCDO advises against all travel. This page is provided for those with genuine essential requirements who need to understand the current conditions.
The current advisory: against all travel
FCDO’s against-all-travel advisory for Russia reflects multiple simultaneous factors: the Ukraine military conflict and its spillover into Russian territory, the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack (145 dead, March 2024), the risk of arbitrary detention for foreign nationals, the sanctions environment, and the near-total loss of British consular assistance capability.
This is not a precautionary advisory. It reflects a genuine combination of serious risks that make Russia categorically different from any other city in our primary network.
For essential travel only
Some organisations have contractual obligations, asset protection requirements, or staff repatriation needs that cannot be deferred. Some individuals have family requirements that cannot be postponed. For these cases, a risk assessment provides the best available information to minimise risk during a specific, time-limited visit.
The assessment covers: current terrorism and drone attack intelligence, detention risk profile assessment for the specific traveller, financial logistics (cash management, entry and exit procedure), communications security, and emergency protocols for a situation in which consular assistance is largely unavailable.
Our position
We do not provide operator deployment in Russia. We do provide assessment services for essential travellers who need the clearest possible picture of what they are entering. We will advise directly and without qualification if we assess that a specific travel plan carries risks that make proceeding inadvisable.
Cities We Cover
Moscow
Critical riskFCDO advises against all travel. Terrorism (IS Crocus City Hall 2024), Ukraine conflict drone attacks, detention risk for foreign nationals, and sanctions-related financial barriers.
View city guide →Security Regulations
Firearms
Private security firearms regulation is comprehensive under Russian law. Russian security firms operate legally under FSB and regional authority frameworks. Western-licensed firearms professionals cannot operate in Russia. All security in Russia must use Russian-licensed firms.
Licensing
Private security regulated by Russian law under Ministry of Internal Affairs framework. Extensive regulation exists but the sanctions environment and current geopolitical situation make this framework largely inaccessible to Western providers.
Foreign Operators
Western security operators face near-total practical barriers to operations in Russia. Sanctions restrict financial transactions. Political risk makes engagement impossible for most Western firms. Russian security companies dominate the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
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