Russia said on Wednesday that relations with Washington were so confrontational that Russian citizens should not visit the United States, Canada and some EU countries in coming weeks because they risked being "hunted" down by U.

Russia warned its citizens on Dec. 11 to avoid travel to the U.S, Canada, and most European Union nations, due to "increasing confrontation" with the U.S., Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a news briefing.

Spokesperson Maria Zakharova announced the advisory on December 11, citing escalating tensions between Russia and the West. Zakharova particularly addressed the risks for Russians