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The dos and don'ts of visiting Russia for the first time

Sep 24, 2021 • 6 min read

These top tips can help you make the most of your visit to Russia © MarinaDa / Shutterstock

The world’s largest country beguiles and fascinates with its world-class art, epic landscapes and multifaceted society. You may also find that perseverance  and a sense of humour will go a long way in enriching your first-time Russian travel experience. From the things you absolutely must do before you travel to the things we recommend that you steer clear of once you're there, here are some top tips for avoiding common pitfalls when visiting  Russia .

DO apply for a visa early and register on arrival

Visas must be applied for in advance by all visitors. How you do that varies depending on your nationality and where in Russia you are traveling to. Travelers from many countries, including the UK and US, need to apply in-person at an embassy or consulate and provide biometric data. An e-visa may be an option for passport-holders from 52 countries, which include many EU travelers, as well as those from China, India, Japan, Singapore, and some Middle Eastern countries. However these are temporarily suspended due to COVID-19.  Check with your local Russian embassy or consulate for confirmation, or get up-to-date information here . 

You can apply at the last moment, but it may cost you a fortune. Start the application process at least a month before your trip and consider using a specialist travel agency to arrange visas and make key transport bookings. Every visitor to Russia should have their visa registered within seven days of arrival, excluding weekends and public holidays. The obligation to register is with your hotel or hostel, or landlord, friend or family if you’re staying in a private residence. Also keep in mind that your visa entry and exit dates will be written according to European calendar convention (day/month/year) as opposed to the American style, so don't get mixed up or over-stay your visa. 

DO check the events calendar

During major holidays – the first week in January (between New Year’s Day and Orthodox Christmas) and the first week or two of May (around Labour Day, or May Day, and Victory Day) – Moscow and St Petersburg empty out. Despite this, both cities are festive during these times, with parades, concerts and other events, but museums and other institutions may have shortened hours or be shut altogether. May to September is the best time to visit St Petersburg but mid-June is when the city is irresistible, with the White Nights revelry at its peak.

DO dress up for a night out

We can’t guarantee you’ll make it past Moscow’s "face control" (the term comes from clubs trying to "save face" by only letting in patrons who meet their image standards) but you can better your chances of getting in to the top clubs by making a sartorial effort – high heels and skirts for women, all black for men. Russians also make an effort when they go to the theater or a posh restaurant – you should do likewise to fit in.

DO learn the Cyrillic alphabet

Making an effort to familiarize yourself with the Cyrillic alphabet repays tenfold. It will help you decode street and metro signs, maps, timetables and menus, even if you don't know many Russian phrases. While digital tools like the Russian Metro app  and Google Translate make it easier than ever to visit countries where you don't speak or read the language, brushing up beforehand can reduce frustration and endear you to the locals.

Rideshare options such as Taxovichkoff and Yandex Taxi upended the taxi industry in Russia as much as anywhere else. That means less pressure to know the Russian phrases you'd need to hails cabs in the streets, but it still is wise to learn key phrases in case there's a navigation mixup, like the address of your hotel or intersection of your short-term apartment rental. 

DO expect to spend your money

Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world and St Petersburg is not a cheap destination either; wallet-thinning shock is common at many restaurants and hotels. As a foreigner you’ll also find yourself paying more than a Russian for some museums – often as much as 10 times the price Russians pay. If you’re a student, flashing your ID can save you money at museums and other institutions.

You can save on dining out a few different ways. Many restaurants offer "business lunches" that are great value and very filling. Several years ago the trend for " anti-cafes " cropped up in larger Russian cities, and there are still a few where you pay by the minute for coffee, biscuits, and a little wi-fi time. 

Food markets  that blend farmers markets and food halls are popular, and are often found in architecturally significant vintage buildings. You can shop for ingredients to cook yourself or sample cuisines from around the world from dozens of  vendor stalls. Many food markets are less expensive than sit-down restaurants and let you try a wider variety of local and international dishes. 

DON’T ask for a mixer with your vodka

Few traditions in Russia are as sacrosanct as the drinking of vodka , and any foreign notions of drinking it with orange juice or tonic are anathema to your average Russian. If you need something to wash it down, you can chase it with a lemon, a pickle or, perhaps, a separate glass of water. Vodka is drunk in swift shots, not sipped. It’s traditional (and good sense) to eat a little something after each shot, so order some vodka snacks too.

DON’T be disrespectful in a church

Working churches are open to everyone, but as a visitor you should take care not to disturb any devotions or offend sensibilities. There's no face control, but women should cover their heads and bare shoulders when entering a church. In some monasteries and churches it’s also required for a woman to wear a skirt – wraps are usually available at the door. Men should remove their hats in church and not wear shorts.

DON’T take photos of government buildings

Be very careful about photographing stations, official-looking buildings and any type of military-security structure – if in doubt, don’t snap! Travelers have been arrested and fined for such innocent behaviour.

DON’T be surprised if you’re stopped by the police

Although new laws were passed in 2011 that ostensibly reconfigured Russia's police and their interactions with the public, it's still wise to carry a photocopy of your passport, visa and registration – not to mention travel documents that indicate how and when you'll return home – and present them when an officer demands to see your documents. You may also see special tourist police near major attractions like the Red Square , who have special training and language skills to assist travelers.

If you're issued a fine, Russian authorities might expect an "unofficial payment" to expedite their service on the spot, as opposed to handling the matter later at the station. Either way, always ask for an official receipt, and consider carrying the phone number for your country's embassy in case matters get more complicated. 

You might also like: How to spend a perfect weekend in Moscow    How to plan and pack for the Trans-Siberian Railway    Beyond the Trans-Siberian: travelling Russia's unexplored northwest by train   

This article was originally published in August 2009.

This article was first published Oct 30, 2019 and updated Sep 24, 2021.

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There are many ways to discover the largetst country in the world. Whather you are planning a private arrangement or joining a group tour, you will find a variety of amazing Russia travel itineraries expertly crafted to maximise your experience in Russia. Want to lose yourself in the magic of Russia's capitals ? Maybe immersing in Russian Heritage, Culture and History on a Russian river cruise ? Tick your bucket list by Traversing across Russia on the Trans Siberian or seeking an active adventure in the wilderness of Siberia ? We invite you to explore the variety of Russia travel styles below and discover your perfect Russia Itinerary. As another option you can find a variety of Russia travel experiences by going to our Russia Trip Finder .

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Discover a variety of group tours and private travel packages in exciting destinations across Russia . Each destination spoils travellers with unique adventures, attractions and braging rights. Tip : To really experience Russia, we suggest going beyond the capitals of Moscow and St Petersburg, by exploring destinations like Kamchatka, Altai, Lake Baikal, Yamal, Karelia and the Golden Ring, where you will discover magical places and amazing people.

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Use the slider below to browse popular Russia tours and travel packages. Our tour itineraries are available as group, private and bespoke journeys. These itineraries were designed by experts for maximum enjoyment of each destination, in a logical, safe and economical way.

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Stay for three days on the shores of the iconic Kurilskoye Lake and take part in bear viewing, as the bears gorge themselves during the annual salmon run. After Kurilskoye Lake, ...

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Feel as though you have stepped into a fantasy novel as you experience a magical adventure, one that you will never forget. You'll explore the frozen beauty of Olkhon Island by ...

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Russia Travel Articles and Traveler reviews.

Our Russia travel articles share an abundance of information and some really amazing media to compliment it. Get inspired and discover Russia's charm, its exciting travel destinations and learn some essential travel tips before you go. We also invite you to read traveller reviews and inights to the experiences they had in Russia

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Russia is impossible to summarize. How does one sum up the world's largest country with a history spanning a thousand years? Its geography encompasses almost every imaginable landscape, its architecture runs from iconic fairytale palaces to crude Soviet concrete monoliths, and its politics have ranged from tsars to revolution. The culture that gave the world countless writers, musicians, artists, and thinkers is today a work-in-progress, still figuring out its place in a post-Communist world. Travellers will have their work cut out for them here, but the effort yields intense experiences and an adventure of a lifetime.

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How we can help your agency Since our company opened over 10 years ago, we have supported travel agencies and tour operators worldwide by opening the Russian market for their guests. Let us help introduce Russia to your company’s clients by giving them the highest quality and most enjoyable and informative tours available and great prices. We offer substantial commissions on all of our products to travel agencies and tour operators. To learn more about how we can help you grow your travel business to Russia and to receive a catalog with special agency net rates, please fill in the form below or just contact us .

Express to Russia Express to Russia is a fully licensed, Western owned and managed tour operator located in St. Petersburg, Russia with offices in Moscow, New York, Italy and Hungary. By being headquartered in Russia, we are able to bring our professional partners and their guests the best of both worlds – the lowest prices available for Russian tours with the highest levels of quality . With over 10 years of experience on the Russian market we have built exceptional relationships with Russian hotels and transport companies, allowing us to offer lower prices for the same products that other tourism companies offer. Just compare our prices on the Internet with our competitors! The quality of our services is also unbeatable. We have served thousands of satisfied customers – read our customer reviews or watch our video testimonials to learn more.

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Our team consists of tour guides, drivers, tourism managers, customer support representatives, and other support personnel all sharing one important characteristic – we are all enthusiastic lovers of travel and culture and are all here to make sure that you have a great, hassle free, extremely enjoyable trip. Our team is made up of seasoned travel experts, many with over 10 years in the travel business, as well as recent graduates from Russia’s best universities. This combination of extremely experienced individuals and enthusiastic and talented young people differentiates our company from others and ensures our customers a high level of innovation, enthusiasm and excitement in how we conduct our tours and great customer service, we are always ready to help.

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Russia Travel Advisory

Travel advisory september 5, 2023, russia - level 4: do not travel.

Updated to remove COVID-specific information and the kidnapping risk indicator as well as updates to security risks.

Do not travel to Russia due to the unpredictable consequences of the  unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces , the potential for  harassment and the singling out of U.S. citizens for detention by Russian government security officials , the  arbitrary enforcement of local law ,  limited flights into and out of Russia , the  Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia , and the possibility of  terrorism .  U.S. citizens residing or travelling in Russia should depart immediately.  Exercise increased caution due to  the risk of wrongful detentions.

The U.S. government’s ability to provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Russia is severely limited, particularly in areas far from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, due to Russian government limitations on travel for embassy personnel and staffing, and the ongoing suspension of operations, including consular services, at U.S. consulates.

There have been numerous reports of drone attacks, explosions, and fires in areas in Western and Southern Russia, particularly near the Russian border with Ukraine, as well as in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In the event of an emergency, U.S. citizens should follow instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately.

In September 2022, the Russian government mobilized citizens to the armed forces in support of its invasion of Ukraine. Russia may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals’ U.S. citizenship, deny their access to U.S. consular assistance, subject them to mobilization, prevent their departure from Russia, and/or conscript them. 

U.S. citizens should note that U.S. credit and debit cards no longer work in Russia, and options to electronically transfer funds from the United States are extremely limited due to sanctions imposed on Russian banks. There are reports of cash shortages within Russia.

Commercial flight options are extremely limited and are often unavailable on short notice. If you wish to depart Russia, you should make independent arrangements as soon as possible. The U.S. Embassy has severe limitations on its ability to assist U.S. citizens to depart the country and transportation options may suddenly become even more limited. Click  here  for Information for U.S. Citizens Seeking to Depart Russia.

U.S. Embassy personnel are generally not permitted to travel on Russian air carriers due to safety concerns.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded the air safety rating for Russia from Category 1 to Category 2 on April 21, 2022, due to Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport noncompliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. aviation operations into, out of, within, or over those areas of the Moscow Flight Information Region (FIR), the Samara FIR (UWWW) and the Rostov-na-Donu (URRV) FIR within 160NM of the boundaries of the Dnipro (UKDV) Flight Information Regions. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the  Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices .

The right of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are not consistently protected in Russia. U.S. citizens should avoid all political or social protests and not photograph security personnel at these events. Russian authorities have arrested U.S. citizens who have participated in demonstrations and there are numerous reports Russian nationals have been detained for social media activity. 

Country Summary:

U.S. citizens, including former and current U.S. government and military personnel and private citizens engaged in business who are visiting or residing in Russia, have been interrogated without cause and threatened by Russian officials, and may become victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion. 

Russian security services may fail to notify the U.S. Embassy of the detention of a U.S. citizen and unreasonably delay U.S. consular assistance. Russian security services are increasing the arbitrary enforcement of local laws to target foreign and international organizations they consider “undesirable.”

Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on spurious charges, singled out U.S. citizens in Russia for detention and harassment, denied them fair and transparent treatment, and convicted them in secret trials or without presenting credible evidence. Furthermore, Russian authorities arbitrarily enforce local laws against U.S. citizen religious workers and have opened questionable criminal investigations against U.S. citizens engaged in religious activity. U.S. citizens should avoid travel to Russia to perform work for or volunteer with non-governmental organizations or religious organizations.

There have been multiple security incidents in southwestern Russia related to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. The Russian government declared martial law in Russia’s regions bordering Ukraine (Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh, Rostov, Krasnodar) on October 20, 2022. The martial law regime allows the rapid introduction of restrictive measures such as curfew, seizure of private property, restriction of entry/exit and freedom of movement, internment of foreigners, forced relocation of local residents, and restrictions on public gatherings. U.S. citizens should avoid all travel to these areas.

Recent legislation has expanded the ability of Russian authorities to detain, question, and arrest individuals suspected of acting against Russia’s interests, including posts on personal social media accounts, engaging with foreign and international entities, discrediting the Russian state or military, as well as advocating for the rights of LGBTQI+ persons.

Terrorist groups, both transnational and local terrorist organizations, and individuals inspired by extremist ideology continue plotting possible attacks in Russia. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs and systems, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas. Travel to the North Caucasus (including Chechnya and Mt. Elbrus) is prohibited for U.S. government employees and strongly discouraged for U.S. citizens.

The international community, including the United States and Ukraine, does not recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea as well as four other Ukrainian oblasts – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya – that Russia has purported to annex more recently. There is extensive Russian Federation military presence in these areas. Russia staged its further invasion of Ukraine, in part, from occupied Crimea, and Russia is likely to take further military actions in Crimea, and the four other Ukrainian oblasts are the subject of intensive fighting. There are continuing abuses against foreigners and the local population by the occupation authorities in these regions, particularly against those who are seen as challenging Russia’s authority.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv continues to provide consular services to U.S. citizens in Crimea as well as four other Ukrainian oblasts partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya, although the ongoing conflict severely restricts the Embassy’s ability to provide services in these areas.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Russia.

If you decide to travel to Russia:

• Familiarize yourself with the information on  what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas .
• Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .
• Monitor local and international media for breaking events and adjust your contingency plans based on the new information.
• Ensure travel documents are valid and easily accessible.
• Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Russia.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.

Travel Advisory Levels

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Russia Travel: Who’s In, Who’s Out

Dennis Schaal , Skift

March 4th, 2022 at 12:10 PM EST

The global travel industry is split over doing business in Russia, although the vast majority of companies are abiding by the relevant economic sanctions. Moral outrage, self-interest, and disparate views over harming ordinary Russians are clashing big time.

Dennis Schaal

Ukraine Coverage

Skift’s reporters and editors are working to explain how the war on Ukraine is impacting travel. All of our stories about the subject are free for all readers.

Airbnb is the latest online player, joining Expedia Group, in announcing it would freeze its business in Russia. Here’s the latest on which non-Russian online travel companies, airlines, tour firms, and car rental agencies are still operating there, and which ones bowed out.

Who’s Out?

• Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky tweeted that the company “is suspending all operations in Russia and Belarus.”
• Expedia Group announced earlier in the week that it “ceased the sale of travel into and out of Russia.” That includes its Vrbo vacation rental brand.
• Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel announced Friday the company suspended operations in Russia and Belarus.
• Tripadvisor and its Viator brand are canceling experiences booked in Russia and Belarus, Tripadvisor is blocking attempts to book vacation rentals there, and will halt doing business with Russia-backed tourism boards. Tripadvisor is still accepting advertising from companies offering hotels in Russia and Belarus.
• Spain’s eDreams Odigeo shut its Russia website February 28, and removed Russia and Belarus airlines from its inventory. eDreams Odigeo stopped offering hotels in Russia March 4 because its hotel supplier, Booking Holdings, suspended operations in Russia and Belarus March 4.
• GetYourGuide was not showing any results for experiences in Russia, but it was for Belarus.
• Sabre, Amadeus and Travelport ceased offering distribution services for Aeroflot, meaning travel agents can’t book the airline’s flights. Sabre continues to operate Aeroflot’s Passenger Services System.
• With sanctions in place, no airlines from the U.S., the European Union or the UK are flying into Russia.
• Apple, including Apple Pay, stopped doing business in Russia.
• TUI Group’s Musement and GoTui.com stopped selling things to do in Russia.
• UEFA Champion’s League cancelled the league’s finals in St. Petersburg
• Zoom revoked software development licenses in Russia.
• Boeing suspended aid to Russian airlines , including maintenance, parts and technical support.
• The Travel Corporation suspended all 2022 tours of Russia or with stops in Russia.
• Intrepid Travel is still posting  Russia trips  on its website but the company has cancelled all tours in the country and Ukraine through the end of June. Intrepid’s North America managing director maintains it’s not boycotting Russia and will return to the country when it believes it’s safe to do so.
• G Adventures removed all Russia tours from its website. Bruce Poon Tip, the company’s founder, said his company wouldn’t accept bookings from Russian agencies. 
• Kensington Tours  is not accepting bookings  for trips to Russia.
• Trafalgar won’t be operating Russia tours in 2022, according to the company. Rick Steves Europe canceled its Russia tours.
• SmarTours cancelled its Russia itineraries.
• American Express, as well as Visa, Mastercard and PayPal, have suspended their Russian operations. Amex’s globally issued cards now no longer work in Russia at merchants or at ATMs. Cards issued by Russian banks in Russia also no longer work outside the country on Amex’s network.
• Cloudbeds, a provider of digital tools to hospitality businesses, is indefinitely suspending all operations and services in Russia and with Russian-based companies, including partners, Ostrovok and MaxiBooking, as well as customers who operate in Russia.
• TripActions is no longer supporting travel to Russia and Belarus. And, in partnership with Visa, the Tripactions Liquid card will no longer work for transactions in Russia.
• Tauck cancelled its 2022 Russia tours , and has dropped its St. Petersburg port call on all departures of its 2022 St. Petersburg and the Baltic Sea itinerary.
• Corporate hotel portal HRS has suspended its services in Russia.

Who’s In?

• Chinese airline and the big Middle Eastern carrier, including Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, and Turkish are operating to and from Russia.
• Google Travel was taking advertising from hotel chains, independents, and online travel agencies for hotels in Russia. Google was selling partners’ vacation rentals, too.
• eDreams Odigeo is still offering flights to and from Russia when booked on its sites outside of Russia on non-Russian and non-Belarusian airlines, and when the itineraries don’t violate EU sanctions. Russians in Russia could potentially book these flights if they can find a payment method that works. Russian credit cards, for example, won’t work on the company’s sites.
• Lastminute.com was selling hotels and car rentals in Russia.
• MakeMyTrip was selling bookings for hotels, apartments and villas in Russia.
• Many small online travel agencies were offering hotels in Russia, as were a vast number of hotel brands, as well.
• Avis, Budget, Rentmotors, and Yodo are among the car rental firms still doing business in Russia

Update: This post has been updated several times to provide the latest information about travel companies dropping out of doing business in Russia and Belarus.

Skift edit staffers Rashaad Jorden, Matt Parsons, Lebawit Lily Girma, Sean O’Neill, and Madhu Unnikrishnan of Skift’s Airline Weekly contributed to this report.

The above lists of companies doing business and not doing business in Russia is exhaustive, and the situation is fluid.

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Tags: airlines , apple , Boeing , booking holdings , car rentals , edreams , expedia , g adventures , getyourguide , google , hotels , lastminute.com , makemytrip , online travel agencies , russia , sabre , sanctions , the travel corporation , trafalgar , travel , tripadvisor , ukraine , Zoom

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Devastation of Ukrainian town laid bare in drone footage - as Russia 'shifting battlefield focus'

Aerial images of the eastern town of Chasiv Yar have revealed the effects of Russian bombardment. A leading thinktank has suggested Moscow's battlefield focus may have shifted towards the town. Listen to a Daily podcast on whether the UK should send troops to Ukraine as you scroll.

Wednesday 1 May 2024 18:45, UK

• Drone footage reveals ghost town left after Russian bombardment  
• The signs Moscow's battlefield focus could be shifting
• Your questions answered: Why can't Ukraine destroy key Crimean bridge?
• Listen to the Sky News Daily above and  tap here  to follow wherever you get your podcasts
• Live reporting by Katie Williams and (earlier)  Lauren Russell

In Ukraine's partially occupied Donetsk region, troops continue to fight back against Russian forces on the frontline.

Moscow is heavily focusing on the eastern region, where it claims to have captured several towns and villages.

In these pictures, Ukrainian soldiers fire a howitzer at Russian positions.

The US has imposed new sanctions on three people connected to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Mr Navalny died at a remote Arctic prison in February in unknown circumstances.

Russian authorities say he died of natural causes while his supporters believe he was killed. Western leaders quickly held Vladimir Putin responsible - but a US intelligence report earlier this week found the Russian president likely didn't directly order Mr Navalny's death.

The three individuals are among hundreds of people and entities targeted in Washington's new round of Russia-related sanctions.

A notice on the treasury's website said companies connected to Russia's Arctic liquefied natural gas 2 project were among those hit with sanctions.

Restrictions have also been slapped on Russian air carrier Pobeda, a subsidiary of the country's largest airline Aeroflot.

Ukrainian ground troops have been handed 20 new Toyota pickup trucks through funds allocated to one of the military's brigades.

Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, said 60 million hryvnias (£1.2m) has been set aside by the capital for the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Ground Forces.

The trucks were purchased for half of this amount, he said.

Thanking Kyiv for the donation, Major Maksym Zhorin, deputy commander of the third brigade, said the vehicles were "extremely important" as they are used for evacuating soldiers, deliveries and some logistics tasks.

Three children have been "rescued" from Russian-occupied territory in Kherson, the Ukrainian regional governor has said.

Oleksandr Prokudin said a girl aged 11, and two boys, nine and 11, were receiving psychological help and medical care after the "rescue mission".

The governor said 66 children from Kherson had been returned to territory controlled by Ukraine since the start of the war. 

Kherson is one of Ukraine's southernmost regions.

It lends its name to the region's capital city in the northwest, which was the first major city to fall to the Russians after they invaded in 2022.

At least 19,500 children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to the Children of War database.

If you're just joining us or briefly dipping in, here's a quick rundown of all the key events so far today:

• Russia's focus on the battlefield may be shifting north of Avdiivka, according to a leading US thinktank. It said troops appear to be concentrating more in the direction of Chasiv Yar;
• Keeping on Chasiv Yar, drone footage released by Ukraine's police patrol shows the scale of bombardment in the city. Russian aggression is thought to be focusing there due to its potential to lead to cities further in the east;
• Two people have died and six people have been injured - including an 11-year-old boy - after Russian guided bombs struck the region of Kharkiv;
• The Russian military claimed it has attacked the headquarters of the Ukrainian army's southern grouping. The attack was carried out using Russian air force missiles and artillery, Moscow's defence ministry said. 

An exhibition showing more than 30 pieces of Western military equipment captured from Ukrainian forces has opened in the Russian capital.

A US-made M1 Abrams battle tank, a Leopard 2 tank and a Marder armoured infantry vehicle from Germany, and a French-made AMX-10RC armoured vehicle are on display.

The month-long exhibit at the Second World War memorial in Moscow was branded a "brilliant idea" by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The Russian authorities have criticised supplies of Western weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, casting them as evidence of NATO's direct involvement in the conflict.

Britain, the US and the European Union are pressing the United Arab Emirates to show it is cracking down on firms evading sanctions imposed on Russia.

Three separate Western sources said they are particularly concerned about the UAE exporting computer chips, electronics, machinery and other sanctioned products to Russia that could be used to aid Moscow's military effort against Ukraine.

Some exports have increased since Russia was hit with Western sanctions, the sources claimed.

Western states implemented sanctions against Russia soon after the war began in February 2022 but other countries do not necessarily have to apply them too.

A UAE official said it remains in close dialogue with its international partners, including the US and EU, concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its implications for the global economy.

Months of Russian artillery strikes have devastated the strategically important town of Chasiv Var in eastern Ukraine.

Drone footage - reminiscent of Bakhmut after its capture by Moscow's forces last year - lays bare the effects of strikes on the town, once home to 12,000 people.

Russia's focus may be shifting more towards Chasiv Yar, which is around 80km north of Avdiivka, as if captured it would make it easier for Moscow to advance further in the east.

Ukraine hopes to store 4bn cubic metres of gas from foreign companies and traders this winter despite an increase in Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. 

Oleksiy Chernyshov, chief executive of state energy company Naftogaz, said Russia had attacked company infrastructure five times since March.

The company is working on strengthening defences that can protect vulnerable above ground gas facilities, but stresses it has underground facilities big enough to store 31bn cubic metres.

That's enough for Ukraine's annual needs and surplus storage from Europe. 

Storing gas helps Ukraine to make a profit while providing Europe with additional supply flexibility after the continent cut Russian gas imports at the start of the war. 

Earlier, we reported that Russian guided bombs had struck the northeast Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, killing two people.

The number of injured has risen to six, including an 11-year-old boy, the regional governor said. 

Oleh Syniehubov said a 64-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were killed while driving their car.

Also injured were a 50-year-old man and 41-year-old woman, who received medical treatment.

More than 20 cars were damaged and a house was destroyed. 

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Kenya flood toll rises to 181 as homes and roads are destroyed

Floods and landslides across Kenya have killed 181 people since March, with hundreds of thousands forced to leave their homes, the government and Red Cross said on Wednesday, as dozens more were killed in neighbouring Tanzania and Burundi.