The US State Department on Monday ordered all US citizens in Russia to leave immediately as the war in Ukraine escalates and concerns grow over arbitrary detentions.
“American citizens residing or traveling in Russia should leave immediately,” warned the US embassy in Moscow. “Exercise increased caution due to risk of wrongful arrests.”
In a clear message, the department also said: “Do not travel to Russia.”
The US seal is seen in front of the US Embassy in Moscow on June 1, 2022 (Photo by Vlad Karkov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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The embassy warned that its ability to assist US citizens in Russia was severely limited due to staffing constraints, travel restrictions and the suspension of consular services.
All Americans were warned to seek an exit from the country immediately and reminded that American debit or credit cards do not work in Russia and that electronic funds transfer has become increasingly difficult due to sanctions.
“Russian security services arrested US citizens on trumped-up charges, singled out US citizens in Russia for detention and harassment, denied them fair and transparent treatment, and convicted them in secret trials or without presenting credible evidence,” the embassy added.
Fox News Digital could not immediately reach the State Department for comment why this warning was issued now and whether it suggested an imminent escalation in the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin on Monday dismissed the embassy warnings and pointed to similar calls to leave Russia issued by the State Department in September, shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin mobilized more Russians to join his ranks in Ukraine.
Russian police patrol Red Square in front of Saint Basil’s Cathedral in central Moscow on February 13, 2023. (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images)
“[Warnings] have been voiced by the State Department many times in the last period, so this is not something new,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Reuters.
On Monday, US experts were divided on the importance of the warning and its timing, with a former intelligence officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency for Russian Doctrine and Strategy, Rebekah Koffler, describing the alert as “serious”.
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Koffler noted that the announcement came 10 days before Russia’s Soviet Army Day, also known as Defender of the Fatherland Day, and 11 days before the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian troops load 203mm Pion artillery shells onto a truck on February 2, 2023 after completing a firing mission. Artillery continues to play an important role in defending against the Russian invasion. (Photo by Madeleine Kelly/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“Putin wants to claim some achievement,” he said, warning that he believes Russia will launch a “massive attack” within the next week as it seeks to gain some ground in Ukraine.
Ukrainian and Western defense officials have been sounding the alarm for months that Russia is planning a major offensive in an attempt to turn the tide after gaining little ground in months.
“There’s no way this war is going to go except up,” Koffler continued, questioning why the department hadn’t issued another warning to American citizens in advance of the coming offensive.
“There is no way out [strategy]he said, noting that both Ukraine and Russia see the war as an existential threat and therefore will not relent on the front lines.
Former CIA Moscow station chief Dan Hoffman argued that the embassy alert was routine and served as a reminder to Americans of the dangerous situation they find themselves in if they stay in or travel to Russia.
“The bottom line is that we have issued these warnings in the past,” he told Fox News Digital. “Just because you aired it once, doesn’t mean everyone remembers it.
“We don’t make decisions based on calendar dates,” he continued. “I have [served] in many embassies abroad. Yet what we do is we look at the threat and say, ‘It’s still out there, we’ll remind everyone: PSA’.”
A group of citizens gathered in front of the US Embassy in Moscow, the Russian capital, protested with the Russian and Serbian flags on April 3, 2022. (Photo by Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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“There is a big war going on and … Americans are at risk,” Hoffman said. “We have to serve our citizens and let them know that this is a dangerous place.
“We probably don’t want more people to get caught up in extorting Russia,” he added, referring to Americans arrested in Russia, such as US Marine Paul Whelan and basketball player Brittany Griner, along with the respective concessions Washington made. by exchanging an international arms dealer. for the WNBA athlete.
