Thousands Of Cashless Russians Stranded Overseas Amid Flight Cancellations

Topline

Thousands of Russian tourists are stuck overseas, running short on cash and without functioning credit cards after their flights back home were canceled following Western sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Key Facts

Around 6,500 Russian tourists are stuck in Thailand—a popular vacation spot for Russians who accounted for the largest group of travelers to that country in February—due to flight cancellations, and many of them are left without functioning credit cards after Visa and Mastercard suspended service in Russia, the Associated Press reported.

The Russian embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, told Reuters that there was “support from the government directly” to Russians stuck there, adding that Russia’s Pochta Bank is providing virtual cards using UnionPay, a Chinese credit card company.

Nearly 15,000 Russian tourists were stuck in the Dominican Republic as of March 2, AFP reported, and the country planned to provide accommodation to them for the time being.

Hundreds of Russians were left behind in Bulgaria, a popular destination for Russian skiers, as of March 1 after European countries closed their air space to Russian flights, Reuters reported.

Key Background

There are few direct flights to Russia from leading international destinations after major foreign airlines suspended service to the country and the EU, U.S. and other countries closed their air space to Russian airlines, while Russian carriers have been forced to curtail service internationally over EU sanctions that have required foreign lessors to seek the return of their jets. There are still ways to fly to Russia, including connecting through the Middle East, but not all Russians overseas may want to go home at the moment given the cratering economy and worries that President Vladimir Putin could declare a general mobilization.

Further Reading

Cashless and flightless, Russian tourists stuck in Thailand (Associated Press)

Russian tourists in Indonesia without cash as sanctions bite (Reuters)

Nearly 17,000 Russian, Ukrainian tourists stuck in Dominican Republic (AFP)