Western diplomats have described life in Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine as marked by surveillance and persistent paranoia, drawing comparisons with the tensions of the Cold War.
Officials working in the Russian capital say the conditions surrounding their work have changed significantly during the war. Their accounts focus on the sense of being watched and the constant suspicion that now forms part of diplomatic life in Moscow.
The comparison with the Cold War reflects the strained environment in which Western diplomats are operating. While the supplied accounts do not provide further details about specific incidents or measures, they portray a working atmosphere defined by surveillance and unease.
The diplomats’ descriptions offer an insight into the pressures faced by foreign officials continuing to work in Russia during the conflict. Their accounts indicate that heightened mistrust remains a central feature of diplomatic life in wartime Moscow.
