Do Not Travel
“Do not travelto Russia for any reason due to terrorism, unrest, wrongful detention and other risks. U.S.”
Updated Mon, 29 Dec 2025
Full advisory →Europe · Updated
As of October 2026, Russia scores 20/100 on the IsMyTripSafe safety index — verdict: elevated risk — reconsider. The U.S. State Department rates Russia Level 4: Do Not Travel. Of the 9 Russia destinations assessed, Charkov scores highest (20/100), while Novosibirsk scores lowest (20/100).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Russia · Assessed 13 October 2026
20
/ 100
Safer than ~7% of countries
Score capped at 20 — Level 4 advisory — "Do Not Travel". No other indicator can raise the score above this.
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Do Not Travel
“Do not travelto Russia for any reason due to terrorism, unrest, wrongful detention and other risks. U.S.”
Updated Mon, 29 Dec 2025
Full advisory →Advises against all travel
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). FCDO advises against all travel to Russia FCDO advises against all travel to Russia due to the risks and threats from its continuing invasion of Ukraine, including: security incidents, such as drone attacks, and Russian air defence activity lack of flights to return to the UK limited ability for the UK government to provide support There is an increased risk of British nationals being detained in Russia, including if the Russian authorities suspect you of engaging in or supporting activities against Russian law, even if activities took place outside Russia.”
Updated 2026-10-07T12:49:04Z
Full advisory →Avoid all travel
“Canada's official risk level for Russia: avoid all travel.”
Updated 2026-09-24T08:53:36.1325016-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMugging and armed robbery occur sporadically, particularly in poorly lit areas and near transport hubs after dark
Pickpocketing
HighPickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in crowded areas such as metro stations, markets, and tourist sites
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly negative
48/100
Recent traveler reports indicate widespread anxiety about safety, with many citing fear of detention, sudden security incidents, and difficulty departing due to flight restrictions.
No. Russia is extremely unsafe for travelers due to ongoing conflict, arbitrary detention risks, and severely limited consular support.
Multiple governments advise against all travel to Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine, which has triggered security incidents, drone attacks, and air defense activity that endanger civilians. Arbitrary detention of foreigners, including on suspicion of opposing Russian law, remains a real risk with little recourse. Consular assistance from the UK, US, and Canada is extremely limited, and travel insurance may be invalidated.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
The UK Foreign Office’s October 2026 update warns against all travel to Russia due to security incidents from the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, including drone strikes and air defense activity that pose risks to civilians. British nationals face an increased risk of detention, even for actions taken outside Russia, and consular support is severely limited. Forbes reported in September 2026 that crime is surging across the country, resembling levels seen in the 1990s, driven by economic strain and wartime social pressures. Pickpocketing remains a high risk in crowded areas like metro stations and markets, while mugging occurs sporadically in poorly lit zones after dark. Travelers already in Russia should avoid political discussion, keep a low profile, and monitor embassy alerts closely, though the safest course is to not travel there at all. Travel insurance may be invalidated if advice is ignored, and flight options remain restricted. The situation remains volatile, with diplomatic tensions escalating as seen in October 2026 when Russia requested ICC leaders’ extradition, prompting protests from Japan and others. Given these risks, all official advisories align: do not travel.
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06 · Destinations
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07 · Questions
The U.S. State Department currently rates Russia Level 4 of 4 — Do Not Travel. On our composite index Russia scores 20/100. See the destination reports above for city-level detail. (Updated 19 October 2026.)
Of the destinations we've assessed, Charkov currently scores highest at 20/100 (High Risk). Novosibirsk scores lowest at 20/100.
Directly from public sources: US, UK and Canadian government advisories, World Bank and UNODC crime statistics, WHO health data, live air-quality, disaster and earthquake feeds — plus AI field research over current local reporting. Read the full methodology.