Russia

SAFETY & SECURITY

• Active drone and missile strikes occur across Russia, including Moscow and St. Petersburg — not only near the Ukrainian border.

Prepare: Identify the nearest bomb shelter or hardened structure at every location you stay; know local air-raid siren signals before you need them.

• Border oblasts of Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Rostov, and Krasnodar Krai face the highest frequency of armed incursions, shelling, and military activity.

Prepare: Do not travel to these regions under any circumstances; if currently there, leave immediately via available commercial routes.

• Terrorism is a credible threat nationwide; the North Caucasus (Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia) faces frequent bombings and kidnappings; concert halls, transit hubs, and tourist sites are priority targets.

Prepare: Avoid crowds and high-profile venues; identify exits upon entering any public building.

• Dual Russian-Canadian citizens are subject to mandatory military conscription.

Prepare: If you hold Russian citizenship, consult a lawyer before entering Russia — Canadian consular protection will be severely limited once you are treated as a Russian national.

• Unauthorized demonstrations have resulted in mass arrests; proximity to a protest is grounds for detention.

Prepare: Monitor local news daily and reroute immediately if any gathering forms nearby.

• Spiked drinks and food are reported in bars, restaurants, and taxis, used to facilitate robbery and sexual assault.

Prepare: Accept no food or drinks from strangers; order only sealed bottles and never leave your drink unattended.

• Criminals impersonating police officers are active, particularly in St. Petersburg; real officers display a visible ID number on their uniform.

Prepare: If stopped, ask to see credentials and offer to proceed to the nearest police station rather than handing over documents or cash on the spot.

HEALTH

• No specific mandatory vaccinations are required for entry, but routine immunizations (MMR, tetanus, hepatitis A and B) should be current before travel.

Prepare: Visit a Canadian travel health clinic at least 6 weeks before departure to update routine vaccines and get destination-specific recommendations.

• Tick-borne encephalitis is present in forested and rural areas, particularly Siberia and the Far East, from spring through autumn.

Prepare: Ask your travel medicine provider about the TBE vaccine; use DEET-based repellent and check for ticks after outdoor activity.

• Rabies is present; risk increases in rural areas through contact with animals.

Prepare: Avoid contact with stray dogs and wildlife; discuss pre-exposure rabies vaccination with your travel clinic if rural travel is planned.

• Medical facilities in major cities are adequate for routine care, but rural care is poor; evacuation may be necessary for serious conditions. Payment is expected upfront and Canadian cards will not work.

Prepare: Carry comprehensive travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation, and bring sufficient cash in rubles to cover potential medical expenses.

VISA & ENTRY

• Canadian citizens require a visa to enter Russia; visa-free or e-visa options are not currently available to Canadians under normal circumstances, and the conflict has further complicated the process.

Prepare: Contact the Embassy of Russia in Ottawa to determine whether visa processing is currently operational and what documentation is required.

• GPS systems are unreliable or jammed across much of Russia, complicating border crossing navigation.

Prepare: Download offline maps and confirm border crossing hours and accessibility before traveling to any land or sea border.

• The North Caucasus and certain restricted zones require special entry permits from Russia's Ministry of the Interior.

Prepare: Apply for permits well in advance if travel to restricted zones is unavoidable; carry physical copies of all permissions.

• Canadians holding dual Russian citizenship will be treated exclusively as Russian nationals by authorities.

Prepare: Register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service before departure regardless; update contact information if circumstances change.

Verify all visa and entry requirements directly with the nearest embassy or consulate before travel. Requirements can change without notice.

LOCAL LAWS & CULTURE

• Publicly discussing or sharing information about the Ukraine invasion — including online — can result in criminal charges and imprisonment.

Prepare: Delete social media posts, photos, and messages that could be interpreted as critical of Russian military operations before entering Russia.

• 2SLGBTQI+ rights are not recognized; same-sex relations are not illegal but public expression, advocacy, or any content deemed "propaganda" is criminalized, with severe penalties.

Prepare: Remove or privatize any social media content, apps, or materials related to LGBTQ+ identity before crossing the border.

• Your electronic devices may be searched at the border or at any time without consent; surveillance of communications is routine.

Prepare: Travel with a clean device if possible; use end-to-end encrypted communications and assume no digital activity is private.

• Photography near military installations, government buildings, and infrastructure is prohibited and can lead to detention.

Prepare: Do not photograph anything that could be construed as strategically sensitive; when in doubt, do not take the photo.

• Certain Canadian organizations are designated "undesirable" by Russia; association with civil society, media, or advocacy groups can trigger surveillance or arrest.

Prepare: Carry no materials, business cards, or digital content linking you to any organization Russia might classify as undesirable.

PRACTICAL & CONNECTIVITY

• Canadian and international bank cards do not work in Russia; ATM withdrawals and card purchases are impossible due to sanctions.

Prepare: Bring sufficient cash in rubles (obtained before departure) to cover the entire trip including emergencies, medical costs, and exit expenses.

• The ruble is the local currency; exchanging money on the street is illegal and a common fraud vector.

Prepare: Exchange currency only at major licensed Russian banks upon arrival.

• Russia uses Type C/F outlets at 220V/50Hz; Canadian devices run on 120V and require a voltage converter, not just a plug adapter.

Prepare: Purchase a voltage converter rated for your devices before departure; a plug adapter alone will damage or destroy North American electronics.

• Access to many foreign websites and apps (including some VPNs) is blocked; VPN use is legally restricted.

Prepare: Research which communication tools remain functional inside Russia; inform family of your contact plan before you lose access to usual platforms.

• GPS navigation is unreliable across much of the country.

Prepare: Download offline maps (e.g., Maps.me with Russian data) and carry printed maps of key routes.

CLIMATE & TIMING

• Russia spans eleven time zones and extreme climates; Moscow winters (November–March) routinely reach −15°C to −25°C with heavy snow and ice.

Prepare: Pack thermal layers, waterproof boots with grip, and ensure your travel insurance covers cold-weather medical incidents.

• Summer (June–August) is the most accessible period in Moscow and St. Petersburg, with long daylight hours and mild temperatures around 20–25°C.
• Siberia and the Far East experience severe winters reaching −40°C or colder; summer brings intense heat and significant wildfire smoke risk.

Prepare: If traveling to Siberia in any season, prepare for rapid weather changes and carry emergency supplies if venturing outside urban areas.

TOP SIGHTS

Given Canada's Avoid All Travel advisory, Travint does not recommend travel to Russia at this time. The following are provided strictly as reference for future consideration when conditions may change.

• The Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow — the political and historic core of Russia; St. Basil's Cathedral and Lenin's Mausoleum are located here.
• The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg — one of the world's largest art museums, housed in the Winter Palace; collections span from antiquity to the 20th century.
• Peterhof Palace and Gardens, St. Petersburg — 18th-century imperial estate known for its elaborate fountain system on the Gulf of Finland.
• Trans-Siberian Railway — the world's longest continuous rail line, connecting Moscow to Vladivostok across eight time zones; a logistically complex, multi-day journey.
• Lake Baikal, Siberia — the world's deepest freshwater lake, holding roughly 20% of Earth's unfrozen surface freshwater; accessible from Irkutsk.

WHERE TO STAY

Given Canada's Avoid All Travel advisory, neighborhood guidance is provided for reference only.

Moscow

• Arbat District — historic pedestrian area in central Moscow; well-connected by metro, higher foot traffic provides marginal security through visibility, but pickpocketing is common.
• Zamoskvorechye — south of the Kremlin across the Moscow River; quieter residential feel, proximity to the Tretyakov Gallery, lower tourist density.
• Tverskoy District — central, close to major transit and hotels; highest presence of surveillance infrastructure in the city, and also the highest police visibility.

St. Petersburg

• Admiralteysky District — includes Nevsky Prospekt and central landmarks; convenient but high pickpocket risk around tourist corridors.
• Vasileostrovsky District — island district west of the historic center; quieter, with university presence, lower petty crime density than the main tourist strip.
• Petrogradsky District — residential and commercial mix north of the city center; lower tourist profile, reasonable transit access.

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Embassy of Canada in Moscow: Starokonyushenny Pereulok 23, Moscow — tel: +7 495 925-6000. Note: consular capacity may be severely limited and cannot be relied upon for evacuation.
• Russian police: 102
• Russian ambulance: 103
• Russian unified emergency number: 112 (works from mobile phones)
• Government of Canada 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre: 1-800-387-3124 (toll-free from North America) or +1-613-996-8885 (collect calls accepted from abroad)