Western diplomats report intense surveillance in Moscow

Western diplomats stationed in Moscow since the start of the war in Ukraine have described a climate of constant surveillance, intimidation, and mistrust. According to accounts from five diplomats interviewed by the BBC, the current environment in Russia resembles the Cold War era.

Lynne Tracy, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2023 to 2025, characterized her tenure as likely the most difficult of her career. Despite having survived an armed attack in Pakistan, Tracy noted that the permanent uncertainty and pressure from Russian counterintelligence and security services in Moscow were uniquely exhausting.

Diplomats reported being subject to pervasive monitoring, including cameras and listening devices in homes and offices. One former European diplomat noted receiving warnings to expect surveillance equipment in every room. Additionally, reports surfaced of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) attempting to recruit embassy staff to provide intelligence, though such attempts were reportedly intercepted by the missions.