World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
Western diplomats describe surveillance and isolation in wartime Moscow
Western diplomats in Moscow say they face constant surveillance and isolation as Russia's war in Ukraine continues.
Hundreds of Russian diplomats were expelled from the US and European countries after Russia began its full-scale invasion in 2022, and Moscow responded by expelling Western diplomats.
The resulting staff shortages have left some embassies with fewer people to do their work.
Russian officials have accused diplomats from countries they call unfriendly of espionage, and most Russian officials are reportedly barred from speaking to Western embassies.
Diplomats say government contact with Moscow has become very limited, making their role in conveying their governments' positions more important.
Lynne Tracy, the former US ambassador to Russia, left Moscow in 2025 after leading the embassy through the difficult period.
She says ties between ordinary Americans and Russians could help relations improve if government-to-government contact resumes.
Western diplomats say they face constant surveillance, isolation and uncertainty while serving in wartime Moscow.
Five diplomats who served in Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine described pressure comparable to the Cold War era.
Russia has declared hundreds of Western diplomats persona non grata after hundreds of Russian diplomats were expelled by Western countries.
Former US ambassador Lynne Tracy said maintaining the US Embassy’s operations and ties between Americans and ordinary Russians were among her priorities.
Diplomats say that despite limited contact with many Western governments, they remain important for communicating their governments’ positions.
- Who
- Five diplomats who served in Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including former US ambassador Lynne Tracy.
- What
- They described surveillance, isolation and uncertainty in Moscow. They said diplomats remain important despite reduced contact between governments.
- When
- The account was published on 22 October 2026 and covers the period since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
- Where
- Moscow, Russia.
- Why
- Western diplomats say the pressure comes from Russian counterintelligence and the Russian government’s treatment of diplomats from countries it considers unfriendly.
Western diplomats
Russian government
Surveillance and diplomatic work
Western diplomats
Western diplomats say they face constant surveillance and are increasingly isolated.
Russian government
Russian officials have accused diplomats from “unfriendly countries” of engaging in “espionage.
Contact with Russian officials
Western diplomats
Diplomats say reduced contact makes their work harder, while leaving them responsible for communicating their governments’ positions.
Russian government
According to Alexei Venediktov, most Russian officials have effectively been banned from speaking to Western embassies.
Hundreds of Russian diplomats were expelled from countries in Europe and the US after the war began, and Moscow responded by declaring hundreds of Western diplomats persona non grata.
Lynne Tracy began serving as the US ambassador in Moscow.
Tracy left Moscow, saying the US Embassy had held firm and describing efforts to maintain connections between Americans and ordinary Russians.
The BBC published accounts from five diplomats who had served in Russia since the full-scale invasion.
- Diplomats interviewed
- Five
- US ambassador
- Lynne Tracy
- Tracy’s Moscow posting
- 2023–2025
- Russian diplomats expelled
- Hundreds
- Western diplomats declared persona non grata
- Hundreds
- Outlet publication date
- 22 October 2026
1 source
What people are saying
Being the ambassador to Russia was probably the hardest assignment of my career
What made Moscow more difficult were the high levels of uncertainty.
Because at some point, government-to-government relations will have a chance to improve - and those ties between people will be there to help speed the improvement.
You are being misunderstood precisely because of your own actions - because ambassadors cannot do their jobs.