In the span of just two weeks, the U.S. Department of State has released a wave of travel advisories covering numerous countries, reflecting rising global instability and regional tensions.
The State Department’s travel advisory system ranks countries on a four-level scale:
Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Level 4: Do Not Travel
While most advisories stop short of urging Americans to avoid travel outright, Level 4 warnings signal serious threats to personal safety. Among the latest updates, Russia was flagged with a “Do Not Travel” Level 4 advisory due to its ongoing war with Ukraine.
“The U.S. government has limited ability to help U.S. citizens in Russia, especially outside of Moscow,” the advisory notes. Staffing at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow remains significantly reduced, and the Russian government continues to restrict movement for embassy personnel. All U.S. consulates in Russia are closed and have suspended consular services.
The advisory concludes with an unambiguous warning: “Do not travel to Russia for any reason.”
