Risk Assessments
Moscow Security Assessment
Pre-travel risk assessment for Moscow, Russia. FCDO advises against all travel. Terrorism, Ukraine conflict spillover, detention risk, and drone attacks assessed.
Essential travel to Moscow? Get a current assessment before any decision.
Moscow is the capital of Russia and continues to function as a significant commercial and diplomatic hub despite the profound changes in the country’s international relationships since 2022. Several hundred international companies maintain operations in Russia, and a small number of business visitors continue to enter the country for essential purposes.
FCDO advises against all travel to Russia. This is the UK government’s highest advisory level. This page provides a risk assessment for those with genuine essential requirements who need to understand the current conditions rather than simply accept or ignore the advisory.
The current threat environment
Three distinct threat categories overlap in Moscow in April 2026.
The Ukraine conflict has produced drone and missile attacks on Moscow with increasing frequency. These are unpredictable. The Crocus City Concert Hall attack in March 2024 demonstrated that the IS terrorism threat operates independently of the conflict. And the Russian state’s treatment of foreign nationals creates a fourth category: legal and detention risk that has no equivalent in any other P1 city.
Essential travel planning
For those who proceed with essential travel, the baseline requirements are different from any other city in our network.
No Western payment cards function reliably. Cash management is a fundamental part of pre-travel planning. Entry without a valid visa is impossible. Social media accounts should be reviewed before entry. Any content that could be construed as supportive of Ukraine or critical of Russian military operations creates detention risk from the moment of arrival.
Emergency protocols must account for the near-total absence of consular assistance available to British nationals. FCDO is explicit that its ability to help detained British nationals in Russia is extremely limited.
Our position on Moscow operations
We do not deploy operators inside Russia under current conditions. The legal, financial, and operational constraints make responsible security service provision not viable. Our Moscow assessment covers advance planning, threat awareness, and emergency protocols for essential travellers. We will be direct if we assess that a specific travel plan carries risks we cannot adequately address.
Assessment Components
FCDO Advises Against All Travel
FCDO currently advises against all travel to Russia. This is the highest UK government advisory level and reflects the combination of ongoing military conflict in Ukraine, drone and missile attacks on Russian cities including Moscow, and the significantly elevated risk of arbitrary detention for foreign nationals. This assessment is provided for those with essential travel requirements who have weighed this advisory against their situation.
Terrorism: IS and Ukraine Conflict
The Crocus City Concert Hall attack in March 2024 killed 145 people. IS claimed responsibility. The June 2024 Dagestan attacks killed 20-plus at synagogues and churches. Drone and missile attacks from the Ukraine conflict have struck Moscow and western Russia with increasing frequency. Multiple threat actors are active simultaneously.
Detention Risk
FCDO warns explicitly about the risk of arrest and prolonged detention for foreign nationals in Russia. This includes posting social media content supportive of Ukraine, expressing anti-war views, or any activity perceived as hostile to Russian interests. The British government's ability to assist detained nationals is severely limited by the current diplomatic relationship.
Drone and Missile Attacks
Drone attacks on Moscow and surrounding regions have occurred multiple times since the start of the Ukraine conflict. These attacks are unpredictable in timing and target. Emergency protocols must include shelter-in-place procedures for drone alerts and awareness of designated shelter locations.
Financial and Sanctions Risk
Western sanctions mean most international banking, payment cards, and ATM networks do not function in Russia. Cash in roubles is required for most transactions. This creates practical vulnerabilities around funds access during an extended or delayed stay. Emergency contingency planning must include cash management.
Police and State Risk
Police conduct random passport checks and can detain for 48 hours. Fake police scam exists (criminals posing as officers to rob tourists). Any political activity, including attending any gathering that could be characterised as a protest, carries severe risk. A single person can constitute an illegal protest under current Russian law.
Data-led risk analysis from verified sources
Frequently Asked Questions
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