3 minWorld
US Embassy in Moscow warns of credible mass casualty threat at Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve
The US Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert warning of a credible threat of a mass casualty event at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve, a popular tourist site in the Russian capital, as tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war escalate.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has warned of a credible threat of a "mass casualty event" at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve in the Russian capital, urging people to avoid the area and to stay alert. The security alert was issued on Saturday and referred to the threat as occurring that same day, October 31.
In its statement, the embassy said it was aware of the threat and that the U.S. government was coordinating with appropriate Russian authorities on a response. The alert advised people to avoid the Tsaritsyno Museum area and to "stay alert, and avoid crowds." It also told people in the Moscow area to keep cell phones and other batteries charged, remain aware of their surroundings, and review a personal security plan. The embassy gave the reserve's address as Dolskaya Ulitsa 1, Moscow, Russia 11569.
The Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve was founded in 1775 as a summer home for Russia's Catherine II and is now one of the best-known tourist attractions in the capital. The museum itself drew more than two million visitors in 2022, according to Moscow's deputy mayor Natalya Sergunina, who cited the figure in 2023. The surrounding grounds see even more foot traffic, as local residents use them for physical activity and dog walking, according to The Art Newspaper. That mix of daily public use and tourism is what makes large gatherings there a significant concern for security officials.
The alert came as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate. On Friday, Ukraine struck an oil refinery in southern Russia, ending a two-week pause on energy infrastructure attacks that had been brokered by President Donald Trump between the two warring nations. The previous day, Russian drone and missile strikes in Ukraine killed at least 27 civilians, according to the Wall Street Journal. The embassy's warning therefore arrived against a backdrop of renewed attacks on both sides and a collapse of the short-lived energy truce.
Fox News Digital contacted the U.S. Embassy in Moscow for further information. The alert itself did not describe the nature or source of the threat, and no details about any response by Russian authorities had been released at the time of publication. The source report describes the story as developing, and further updates are expected.
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