U.S. State Department Reissues ‘Level 4: Do Not Travel’ Warning for Russia

The U.S. Department of State is once again warning Americans not to travel to Russia.

In a renewed travel advisory issued this week, the department advised all U.S. citizens currently in Russia to depart immediately. The advisory warns against all travel to the country due to the danger associated with the continuing war with Ukraine, the risk of wrongful detention by Russian officials, and the possibility of terrorism.

“Russian officials often question and threaten U.S. citizens without reason. Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on false charges. They have denied them fair treatment and convicted them without credible evidence. Russian authorities have opened questionable investigations against U.S. citizens for their religious activities,” the advisory reads.

The warning is not new; the State Department has consistently urged Americans to avoid travel to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

The Russia update was one of five advisories reissued by the department since Dec. 18. Other reissued notices include Level 4: Do Not Travel warnings for Belarus and Yemen, a Level 2 warning for Jordan due to terrorism, and a Level 1 advisory for Portugal.

In addition to Belarus, Yemen, and Russia, the State Department maintains Do Not Travel warnings for Venezuela, Syria, Haiti, Ukraine, and several other destinations. Level 4 is the highest advisory level and is the only one that explicitly instructs Americans not to travel to a country.

Other tiers, such as Level 3—the current level for destinations including Jamaica, Colombia, and Israel—typically alert travelers to reconsider travel or to exercise increased caution while abroad.