Summer holidays have turned into an unattainable luxury for millions of Russians as Vladimir Putin's economy buckles under Western sanctions, soaring living costs and relentless Ukrainian drone attacks.
Before the full-scale escalation in 2022, Russians travelled heavily in the summer, with city dwellers able to reach Western Europe on direct flights. Now Western airlines and major booking platforms such as Airbnb have left the market, leaving travellers to deal with complicated logistics, eye-watering fares and tough visa rules. Despite a labour law that grants an exceptionally generous 28 days of paid annual leave, the traditional summer getaway has become a distant prospect for many.
Lyubov Chuchmayeva, from Russian tour operator PAKS, said: "Today, a trip to Russians' beloved Rome, Madrid or Paris is a full-fledged case for the logistics department."
Crimea bookings drop 30%
Domestic travel has also become hazardous. Bookings to sought-after Black Sea resorts, including annexed Crimea, have fallen by 30% after repeated Ukrainian strikes crippled fuel infrastructure and left beaches deserted.
Regional tourism firms reported combined losses of $19.7 billion in June alone. The Kremlin has funnelled $56.7 billion from emergency reserves into the sector, while upmarket Crimean hotels are holding evening events in underground bunkers during air raid alerts.
Wages cannot cover a basic trip
Hotel bookings nationwide have declined by 12% in recent weeks, and cancellation rates have climbed by as much as a third. Outside the capital, the situation is even more desperate.
With average monthly public-sector wages at just $525, even a budget holiday to Turkey starting at $1,575 is out of reach for most Russians. Visitor numbers to Lake Baikal, the world's deepest freshwater lake and one of Russia's most cherished destinations, are down a third because of rising costs.
Rural families abandon holidays to survive
For many in the countryside, the traditional summer break has been completely given up in the struggle for basic survival.
"It's unrealistic for rural residents to actually go on vacation," one village schoolteacher said. "Summer vacation season is a busy time for haymaking, gardening, and harvesting. We raise ducks, geese and broilers, milk the cows and stock up on butter."
