Government tells British nationals to get out of Russia ‘if your presence is not essential’
Government tells British nationals to get out of Russia ‘if your presence is not essential’ as Ukraine crisis ramps up
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British nationals have been urged to consider leaving Russia in the wake of Vladimir Putin‘s invasion of Ukraine.
‘If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes,’ the Foreign Office said in a statement on Saturday.
Travellers or citizens currently in Russia were advised any direct flights back to the UK would be complicated by the fact Moscow banned UK airlines from flying in or out of the country on Friday, February 25.
Those aiming to leave Russia are instead advised to book a connecting flight through the Middle East or Turkey to then travel back to the UK.
On Monday, the British government advised its citizens against all travel to Russia due to a lack of available flight options and increased economic volatility.
The statement read: ‘The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to the whole of Russia due to the lack of available flight options to return to the UK, and the increased volatility in the Russian economy.’
It comes as the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency announced all foreign-bound flights were to be grounded on Saturday.
As Russia slipped further into global isolation, it was announced that all foreign-made aircraft were to cease flights operating abroad effective from Sunday.
British nationals have been urged to consider leaving Russia in the wake of Vladimir Putin ‘s invasion of Ukraine. Pictured: A British Airways aircraft waits on the tarmac in Moscow’s Domodedovo airport
‘If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes,’ the Foreign Office said in a statement on Saturday
As Russia slipped further into global isolation, it was announced that all foreign-made aircraft were to cease flights operating abroad effective from Sunday
As flight corridors over mainland Europe remained as busy as ever, the skies over Ukraine, Belarus and Russia were notably quiet or empty altogether on Saturday March 5
It is unclear how many British expats currently reside in Russia, with estimates ranging from anywhere between around 6,400 to more than 22,000.
The news comes in the wake of the Department of Transport announcing it had barred Russian commercial and civilian aircraft from the UK skies following the invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, February 24.
The DfT issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing its ban would affect all aircraft ‘owned, chartered or operated by a person connected with Russia’.
This encompasses commercial aircraft, such as those operated by Russian flag carrier Aeroflot – but also private planes used by oligarchs.
The Kremlin responded just a day later by banning UK flights to and over Russia in retaliation to a British ban on Aeroflot.
Russia’s aviation authority said: ‘A restriction was introduced on the use of Russian airspace for flights of aircrafts owned, leased or operated by an organisation linked to or registered in the UK.’
Russian owned aircraft were banned from UK airspace from midnight until May 23, the Civil Aviation Authority has announced. Pictured: An Aeroflot plane pictured at Kazan International Airport
