Security in Russia: Essential Travel Assessment

Russia remains a significant economy and a country with which many international businesses maintain legacy relationships, investments, or operational requirements. FCDO advises against all travel. This page is provided for those with genuine essential requirements who need to understand the current conditions.

The current advisory: against all travel

FCDO’s against-all-travel advisory for Russia reflects multiple simultaneous factors: the Ukraine military conflict and its spillover into Russian territory, the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack (145 dead, March 2024), the risk of arbitrary detention for foreign nationals, the sanctions environment, and the near-total loss of British consular assistance capability.

This is not a precautionary advisory. It reflects a genuine combination of serious risks that make Russia categorically different from any other city in our primary network.

For essential travel only

Some organisations have contractual obligations, asset protection requirements, or staff repatriation needs that cannot be deferred. Some individuals have family requirements that cannot be postponed. For these cases, a risk assessment provides the best available information to minimise risk during a specific, time-limited visit.

The assessment covers: current terrorism and drone attack intelligence, detention risk profile assessment for the specific traveller, financial logistics (cash management, entry and exit procedure), communications security, and emergency protocols for a situation in which consular assistance is largely unavailable.

Our position

We do not provide operator deployment in Russia. We do provide assessment services for essential travellers who need the clearest possible picture of what they are entering. We will advise directly and without qualification if we assess that a specific travel plan carries risks that make proceeding inadvisable.

Our in-country operations cover the following city: Moscow.

For professional support in this region, see our executive protection services.

Regulatory framework

Russia’s private security industry operates under Rosgvardia (National Guard of Russia); Federal Service for the Supervision of Compliance with Legislation in the Field of Security. The governing legislation is the Federal Law No. 2487-1 ‘On Private Detective and Security Activity’ (1992, amended).

Federal license required from Rosgvardia. Different license categories for detective activities and security services. Training standards: rosgvardia sets standards. licensed training centers. Both. CHOPs (private security companies) are primary armed providers.

Large. PMC activity expanded significantly during Ukraine conflict. Domestic security market serves oligarchs and corporations. Russia is essentially a no-go market for Western security companies. Content should acknowledge this while noting the market exists for regional operators.

FCDO advises against all travel. Sanctions prohibit most Western commercial activity. Foreign nationals face risk of detention. December 2024 law expansion criminalizes broad range of activities by foreigners.

Firearms and armed security

Licensed private security companies (CHOPs) can carry firearms. Weapons registered with Rosgvardia. Available for licensed operators and VIP clients.

Post-Crocus City Hall attack (2024): additional security measures and restrictions. Weapons legislation tightened.

Foreign nationals working in Russia cannot carry weapons independently. Foreign nationals face risk of arbitrary detention, prosecution, and imprisonment. FCDO’s ability to assist extremely limited. Social media activity can trigger prosecution.

Bringing in foreign security personnel

Theoretical requirements exist but sanctions make Western personnel deployment impossible. EFFECTIVELY IMPOSSIBLE. Western sanctions, geopolitical situation, and legislation expanding liability for ‘acting against Russian interests’ make foreign security operations in Russia unfeasible for Western companies.

When planning a security deployment in Russia, confirm operator licensing with the relevant authority before travel. Licensing status changes and annual renewal lapses are a known risk in this market. Our operators are verified at the point of deployment, not just at onboarding.

Planning your Russia operation

A written pre-travel risk assessment is the correct starting point for any new Russia itinerary. This sets the threat picture, defines the protection profile, and identifies the appropriate operator tier before any commitment is made.

For operational support in the main commercial centre, see our Moscow city guide. Our bodyguard hire page covers the full range of services available in this region.

For the complete regulatory picture, including licensing requirements, firearms rules, and foreign operator restrictions, see our full regulatory guide for Russia.

For an in-depth guide to the close protection operating environment in Russia post-2022 – including SORM surveillance architecture, ChOP trust constraints, sanctions compliance, and detention risk planning – see our close protection in Russia guide.