US Embassy Warns American Citizens in Russia of Drone Strike Threat for First Time

The US Embassy in Moscow issued its first formal security alert warning American citizens across Russia of the danger posed by drone strikes, urging them to seek shelter and follow local authorities during attacks.

The guidance was published on the embassy's official website on June 18.

It marks the first time Washington has formally flagged Ukrainian drone activity as a direct security threat to Americans inside Russia, an acknowledgment that the strikes now reach major cities far from the front line.

The alert noted that drone attacks and explosions have occurred near the border with Ukraine and in large cities across Russia, including Moscow, Kazan, and St. Petersburg.

It instructed citizens caught in an emergency to follow the directions of Russian authorities, seek shelter and move away immediately and take cover when a drone is sighted.

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The embassy also warned against approaching, touching, or photographing drones, drone debris, or objects they drop. It emphasized that Russian law bars sharing or publishing images depicting the aftermath of drone attacks, and that violations may bring a fine or imprisonment.

The notice reiterated the State Department's Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Russia, with the embassy stating that citizens were "again advised and strenuously reminded" not to travel there. It directed Americans to monitor local media and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  to receive security updates.

The embassy listed several actions for citizens to take:

• avoid taking photos or videos of drones or the remains and aftermath of strikes;

• follow Russian law and the instructions of law enforcement during attacks or sightings;

• monitor local media for updates;

The warning came on the same day Ukrainian drones again set parts of Moscow ablaze. Dozens of strike drones targeted the capital and the surrounding region in the early hours of June 18, with several reaching the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district, roughly 15 kilometers southeast of the Kremlin.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that air defenses were repelling a massive attack and that several drones had struck the refinery.

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