Should I Be Worried About Traveling to Moscow?

[mitspilot]

I have been dating a Russian woman over the past few months. We've met in Greece and in the Dominican Republic. I have plans to visit her in Moscow over the New Years. I know there are tensions between Ukraine and Russia and have been for a several years. But I'm reading this morning that Russia is amassing troops on the border, again. I know they've done it before and haven't done anything, but the situation is very unpredictable.

So this begs the question. Is it too risky for a US citizen to travel to Russia right now?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

[andrewfi]

I would take what you read as 'news' in U.S mass media about Russia with a pinch of salt.

If you're minded, try to track down a few place names for these troops and look on a map. Then have a look at the Black Sea and wonder why Russia having troops within its own borders is provocative and how come running a flotilla of U.S and allied ships within a few miles of Russia is not.

Is Russia dangerous? No.

Not unless you are a foreign agent carrying out a mission in Moscow against the laws of Russia. That'll get you locked up quick smart.

[2tallbill]

So this begs the question. Is it too risky for a US citizen to travel to Russia right now?

No

[AvHdB]

So this begs the question. Is it too risky for a US citizen to travel to Russia right now?

Absolutely life threatening !

Moscovites on a regular basis eat Americans, I understand they are delicious grilled. Further they will ignore requests for aid and assistance. If you insist on going bring a combination of ice hockey and American football gear so you navigate safely between the locals.

PLEASE write a trip report if you return from this adventure.

[Steveboy]

I have been dating a Russian woman over the past few months. We've met in Greece and in the Dominican Republic. I have plans to visit her in Moscow over the New Years. I know there are tensions between Ukraine and Russia and have been for a several years. But I'm reading this morning that Russia is amassing troops on the border, again. I know they've done it before and haven't done anything, but the situation is very unpredictable.

So this begs the question. Is it too risky for a US citizen to travel to Russia right now?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

There are hundreds of US guys living in Moscow and St Petersburg.. I do not see them packing their bags .. Most have no intention of returning to the US so I would not worry to much.. more chance you will get murdered in the US on the way to the airport..

[mitspilot]

So this begs the question. Is it too risky for a US citizen to travel to Russia right now?

Absolutely life threatening !

Moscovites on a regular basis eat Americans, I understand they are delicious grilled. Further they will ignore requests for aid and assistance. If you insist on going bring a combination of ice hockey and American football gear so you navigate safely between the locals.

PLEASE write a trip report if you return from this adventure.

[mitspilot]

Thanks guys. Your responses were expected, but I wanted to ask anyway. Moscow here I come!

[AvHdB]

Thanks guys. Your responses were expected, but I wanted to ask anyway. Moscow here I come!

Enjoy!

Use common sense & you will be fine.

Write a trip report.

[mitspilot]

Write a trip report.

Yes sir!

[Contrarian]

I would take what you read as 'news' in U.S mass media about Russia with a pinch of salt.

If you're minded, try to track down a few place names for these troops and look on a map. Then have a look at the Black Sea and wonder why Russia having troops within its own borders is provocative and how come running a flotilla of U.S and allied ships within a few miles of Russia is not.

Is Russia dangerous? No.

Not unless you are a foreign agent carrying out a mission in Moscow against the laws of Russia. That'll get you locked up quick smart.

This.

As an American I am sick of the expectation that the USA will continue to be the "policeman" of the World. We have enough problems back here at home, the last thing we need to do is to get entangled in another mess overseas.

I am of course disgusted with how Biden handled the withdrawal from Afghanistan and wish the rightful winner of 2020 who is Trump would have been able to handle that properly.

Having said that I hope the USA continues to disengage our military from overseas missions.

[Contrarian]

I would take what you read as 'news' in U.S mass media about Russia with a pinch of salt.

If you're minded, try to track down a few place names for these troops and look on a map. Then have a look at the Black Sea and wonder why Russia having troops within its own borders is provocative and how come running a flotilla of U.S and allied ships within a few miles of Russia is not.

Is Russia dangerous? No.

Not unless you are a foreign agent carrying out a mission in Moscow against the laws of Russia. That'll get you locked up quick smart.

This.

As an American I am sick of the expectation that the USA will continue to be the "policeman" of the World. We have enough problems back here at home, the last thing we need to do is to get entangled in another mess overseas.

I am of course disgusted with how Biden handled the withdrawal from Afghanistan and wish the rightful winner of 2020 who is Trump would have been able to handle that properly.

Having said that I hope the USA continues to disengage our military from overseas missions.

PS     BTW don't worry about US propaganda. Have a good trip!

[Manny]

more chance you will get murdered in the US on the way to the airport..

^^ This. 

Enjoy your trip.

[Markje]

I have been dating a Russian woman over the past few months. We've met in Greece and in the Dominican Republic. I have plans to visit her in Moscow over the New Years. I know there are tensions between Ukraine and Russia and have been for a several years. But I'm reading this morning that Russia is amassing troops on the border, again. I know they've done it before and haven't done anything, but the situation is very unpredictable.

So this begs the question. Is it too risky for a US citizen to travel to Russia right now?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

Do not dress as a tourist, do as the locals do and you should be absolutely fine.

[Steveboy]

I have been dating a Russian woman over the past few months. We've met in Greece and in the Dominican Republic. I have plans to visit her in Moscow over the New Years. I know there are tensions between Ukraine and Russia and have been for a several years. But I'm reading this morning that Russia is amassing troops on the border, again. I know they've done it before and haven't done anything, but the situation is very unpredictable.

So this begs the question. Is it too risky for a US citizen to travel to Russia right now?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

Do not dress as a tourist, do as the locals do and you should be absolutely fine.

Do you mean don't dress as an American tourist? Goatee beard.. baseball cap.. cargo pants and floral shirt..

[AJ]

I would take what you read as 'news' in U.S mass media about Russia with a pinch of salt.

If you're minded, try to track down a few place names for these troops and look on a map. Then have a look at the Black Sea and wonder why Russia having troops within its own borders is provocative and how come running a flotilla of U.S and allied ships within a few miles of Russia is not.

Is Russia dangerous? No.

Not unless you are a foreign agent carrying out a mission in Moscow against the laws of Russia. That'll get you locked up quick smart.

This.

As an American I am sick of the expectation that the USA will continue to be the "policeman" of the World. We have enough problems back here at home, the last thing we need to do is to get entangled in another mess overseas.

I am of course disgusted with how Biden handled the withdrawal from Afghanistan and wish the rightful winner of 2020 who is Trump would have been able to handle that properly.

Having said that I hope the USA continues to disengage our military from overseas missions.

There was a long standing Montreux convention  that is honored that only allows a certainly size and aggretonnage of warship from.non border countries to be in the black sea at any given time.
Turkey controls the straight since the 1930s?


However Russia taking Crimea against the accords of the Budapest agreement, sort of nullifies that as far as u.s. involvement, and we were not a signatory initially of Montreux, that's uk Russia turkey.etc.

Russia is the one.with the biggest complaints over the agreement despite being a signatory.

We have long honored the tonnage requirements which limits things .
We also.honor.the 15 day notification of passage. It's not like we  sneak.in.its a narrow straight.

I'm not sure wtf else anyone wants regarding international.waters, which anyone should navigate freely.
, other countries sail within the international water parameters all.the timeorlf everyone else,  everywhere.


If someone  is referencing the early November nato exercise participated in by many nato nations including 3 small.us warships,  of the 6th fleet (med based). it was long scheduled, normal.and expected, regardless Russia reaction and unhappiness. Notable the us ship positions where falsely reported go figure (one had not navigated the straight when reports had it 12 miles off crimea.. im.sure they would love to be capable of moving that fast amd that's still navigation zone.

In the end
 International waters.
(Part of why it was important to Russia to regain Crimea)

To compare the troops at a border to fringing international waters is a tad odd.
As  every country recognizes that it is different and falls under normal.operations by all.the ones o bitterly complaining.

I've been on med based ships,this is totally normal.flex. on both sides.
Nothing new to sea* here, same as it ever was,the reality is we as a nation are overly  cautious regarding notice and protocol about  use of that straight  and sea, so is the uk by the way.

 

If Russia doesn't like it,which is understandable, shouldn't  have nsigned the Budapest agreement and shouldn't have broken it.
They have the Montreux ,and accordingly  we agreeably dont sail in carriers and their large entourage.

 

[AJ]

I have been dating a Russian woman over the past few months. We've met in Greece and in the Dominican Republic. I have plans to visit her in Moscow over the New Years. I know there are tensions between Ukraine and Russia and have been for a several years. But I'm reading this morning that Russia is amassing troops on the border, again. I know they've done it before and haven't done anything, but the situation is very unpredictable.

So this begs the question. Is it too risky for a US citizen to travel to Russia right now?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

Do not dress as a tourist, do as the locals do and you should be absolutely fine.

Do you mean don't dress as an American tourist? Goatee beard.. baseball cap.. cargo pants and floral shirt..

Lol seen that there.

I don't wear any of that ,but the occassional goatee or beard  because I hate shaving.

However completely guilty of dressing however I want, and not trying to blend in.
Any foreigner sticks out like a sore thumb anyway.

 The OP will be fine.
He has more to fear from the mosckovitchka he is seeing  than anything else?
 

[AvHdB]

I have been dating a Russian woman over the past few months. We've met in Greece and in the Dominican Republic. I have plans to visit her in Moscow over the New Years. I know there are tensions between Ukraine and Russia and have been for a several years. But I'm reading this morning that Russia is amassing troops on the border, again. I know they've done it before and haven't done anything, but the situation is very unpredictable.

So this begs the question. Is it too risky for a US citizen to travel to Russia right now?
Yea
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

Do not dress as a tourist, do as the locals do and you should be absolutely fine.

Do you mean don't dress as an American tourist? Goatee beard.. baseball cap.. cargo pants and floral shirt..

I assumed he was going with the ZZ Top beard and the John Wayne attitude.

[Contrarian]

I would take what you read as 'news' in U.S mass media about Russia with a pinch of salt.

If you're minded, try to track down a few place names for these troops and look on a map. Then have a look at the Black Sea and wonder why Russia having troops within its own borders is provocative and how come running a flotilla of U.S and allied ships within a few miles of Russia is not.

Is Russia dangerous? No.

Not unless you are a foreign agent carrying out a mission in Moscow against the laws of Russia. That'll get you locked up quick smart.

This.

As an American I am sick of the expectation that the USA will continue to be the "policeman" of the World. We have enough problems back here at home, the last thing we need to do is to get entangled in another mess overseas.

I am of course disgusted with how Biden handled the withdrawal from Afghanistan and wish the rightful winner of 2020 who is Trump would have been able to handle that properly.

Having said that I hope the USA continues to disengage our military from overseas missions.

There was a long standing Montreux convention  that is honored that only allows a certainly size and aggretonnage of warship from.non border countries to be in the black sea at any given time.
Turkey controls the straight since the 1930s?


However Russia taking Crimea against the accords of the Budapest agreement, sort of nullifies that as far as u.s. involvement, and we were not a signatory initially of Montreux, that's uk Russia turkey.etc.

Russia is the one.with the biggest complaints over the agreement despite being a signatory.

We have long honored the tonnage requirements which limits things .
We also.honor.the 15 day notification of passage. It's not like we  sneak.in.its a narrow straight.

I'm not sure wtf else anyone wants regarding international.waters, which anyone should navigate freely.
, other countries sail within the international water parameters all.the timeorlf everyone else,  everywhere.


If someone  is referencing the early November nato exercise participated in by many nato nations including 3 small.us warships,  of the 6th fleet (med based). it was long scheduled, normal.and expected, regardless Russia reaction and unhappiness. Notable the us ship positions where falsely reported go figure (one had not navigated the straight when reports had it 12 miles off crimea.. im.sure they would love to be capable of moving that fast amd that's still navigation zone.

In the end
 International waters.
(Part of why it was important to Russia to regain Crimea)

To compare the troops at a border to fringing international waters is a tad odd.
As  every country recognizes that it is different and falls under normal.operations by all.the ones o bitterly complaining.

I've been on med based ships,this is totally normal.flex. on both sides.
Nothing new to sea* here, same as it ever was,the reality is we as a nation are overly  cautious regarding notice and protocol about  use of that straight  and sea, so is the uk by the way.

 

If Russia doesn't like it,which is understandable, shouldn't  have nsigned the Budapest agreement and shouldn't have broken it.
They have the Montreux ,and accordingly  we agreeably dont sail in carriers and their large entourage.

 

AJ,

I'm sure you are correct about all of that, that is to say that if we're in International waters, it shouldn't be a big deal.

It's the US media which makes it into a big deal, because they hyperventilate every time Russia moves their troops around, which it seems to me they certainly have a right to do that. After all they actually live over there and we don't. 

[Valenki]

I have been dating a Russian woman over the past few months. We've met in Greece and in the Dominican Republic. I have plans to visit her in Moscow over the New Years. I know there are tensions between Ukraine and Russia and have been for a several years. But I'm reading this morning that Russia is amassing troops on the border, again. I know they've done it before and haven't done anything, but the situation is very unpredictable.

So this begs the question. Is it too risky for a US citizen to travel to Russia right now?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

Being American in any country is always a hit or miss thing. You never know what US policy has upset whom and where. But that's not a good enough reason to stay home. As far as wars go I was a soldier in one war and I've been to several wars "just passing through" so they don't scare me. Anyway, I do not think the Russian state or the Russian population hold any animosity towards individual travellers. There are countries where the people might do that but Russians are pretty cool people and they are not so stupid. The Cold War scare concocted in Washington still lingers in the minds of Americans but it always was bull crappy. The KGB isn't going to kidnap you off the street and ship you off to the Gulag. Go. Visit her. And enjoy the experience. 

[Valenki]

There are hundreds of US guys living in Moscow and St Petersburg..

Edward Snowden for one.

[Valenki]

... As an American I am sick of the expectation that the USA will continue to be the "policeman" of the World....

Yes, most people know the USA are the "hooligans" of the World so thinking they are the police must be awfully distressing for you.

[Manny]

Any foreigner sticks out like a sore thumb anyway.

I disagree. I've always been pestered for directions or something as I'm assumed to be a local.

[AvHdB]

Any foreigner sticks out like a sore thumb anyway.

I disagree. I've always been pestered for directions or something as I'm assumed to be a local.

The same occurs to me in Kiev. The funniest moment was when a German couple approached me and asked in German directions to a museum. In German I asked them to wait a moment and asked Nicolas who speaks fluent German to assist. The couple was more or less speechless that a young teenager spoke such good German. He is a bit of a polyglot.

[AJ]

Any foreigner sticks out like a sore thumb anyway.

I disagree. I've always been pestered for directions or something as I'm assumed to be a local.

Manny,I  don't doubt that, right up until you speak

What I find slightly amusing all these years,is  the notion of blending in overall.

I can te you I live in an area chock full of
Fsu immigrants,ots extremely common to hear Russian or Slavic languages here.
Yet I dont have to hear it to to know.

On that front, if  a  fellow wanted to blend in , in the fsu would the Adidas track suit,  sneakers, buzz cut, and squat  be mandatory ?
Ah yes that's dated now,but  back when guys would get a gussied up to* fit in*.

When I lived in czech rep i could spot them a mile away too.

[Steamer]

  I was in Moscow when Clinton was bombing Yugoslavia and things were a little touchy then. My wife did all the communicating with the locals so no one knew I was US. When I did speak it was usually at a kiosk and they couldn't have cared less where I was from.

  Besides even if things do jump off as long as the US doesn't get involved it shouldn't be a problem.