Number 10 says Brits in Russia DO NOT need an escape plan despite US telling its citizens to prepare an exit strategy because of fears Ukraine crisis could bubble over into attacks in Moscow – but Downing Street refuses to say why it disagrees with America
- US embassy in Russia told US citizens to ‘review your personal security plans’
- It said Americans in Russia should put in place their own ‘evacuation plans’
- Embassy cited concerns about potential attacks in Moscow amid Ukraine crisis
- But No10 said that ‘we don’t have that same advice to British nationals in Russia’
- Foreign Office is advising British nationals to avoid Russia/Ukraine border areas
Downing Street today said it is not advising British nationals living in Russia to draw up escape plans despite the US issuing the advice to American citizens.
The US embassy in Russia yesterday advised US nationals to come up with ‘evacuation plans’ as tensions continue to rise amid the Ukraine crisis.
The US cited concerns about potential attacks in Moscow and St Petersburg ‘as well as in areas of heightened tension along the Russian border with Ukraine’.
But Number 10 said at lunchtime that ‘we don’t have that same advice to British nationals in Russia’, with the situation being kept under ‘close review’.
Downing Street would not be drawn on why its assessment is different to that of the US.
Downing Street today said it is not advising British nationals living in Russia to draw up escape plans despite the US issuing the advice to American citizens
The UK is currently advising against all travel to the border area between Russia and Ukraine
The US embassy told US citizens in Russia on Sunday: ‘According to media sources, there have been threats of attacks against shopping centers, railway and metro stations, and other public gathering places in major urban areas, including Moscow and St. Petersburg as well as in areas of heightened tension along the Russian border with Ukraine.’
It said US citizens should ‘review your personal security plans’ and ‘have evacuation plans that do not rely on US government assistance’.
The advice prompted a slap down from Moscow as the spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, Maria Zakharova, questioned if the US had passed on the information about possible attacks to Russia.
‘And if not, how is one to understand all of this?’ Ms Zakharova said.
Asked if the UK Government is advising its citizens living in Russia to take the same steps, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said: ‘We don’t have that same advice to British nationals in Russia.
‘Obviously we keep it under close review. We will update as necessary.’
Asked why the UK does not share the same assessment of the situation as the US, the spokesman said: ‘I can’t get into what prompted that alert or update from the US.
‘Obviously that would be a matter for them. We are keeping the situation under constant review and will update as necessary.’
UK travel advice for Russia was last updated on February 17 with the Foreign Office advising against all travel to the border area between Russia and Ukraine.
The department said: ‘Due to the build up of Russian forces and ongoing military exercises the FCDO advises against all travel to: within 20km of the border with the Ukrainian Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lugansk Oblasts and within 20km of the border with Ukraine in the Rostov, Belgorod, Voronezh, Kursk and Bryansk regions.’
The Government is advising against all travel to Ukraine and has told British nationals to ‘leave while commercial options remain’.
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