US Embassy warns of imminent 'mass casualty event' at iconic Moscow museum

Sign up for our US Editor's Picks newsletter to get all the best exclusive stories Published: 11:59 EDT, 31 October 2026 | Updated: 12:38 EDT, 31 October 2026 The US Embassy in Moscow has issued an imminent warning for a 'mass casualty event' at a famous Russian museum. The embassy announced on Saturday that it was 'aware of a credible threat' of an event that could cause mass casualties at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve in Moscow. 'The US government is coordinating with appropriate Russian authorities on a response,' the alert said. It advised Americans to avoid the museum for the day and to 'stay alert' and 'avoid crowds.' It is unclear who might be targeting the museum, but the alert comes as tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate. Yesterday, Ukraine struck an oil refinery in Southern Russia. On Thursday, Russia used drones and missile strikes to kill at least 27 civilians in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed earlier this week that fresh peace talks between Russia and Ukraine could take place as early as November 10.A US team is expected to lead the summit in Abu Dhabi, in what would be the first face-to-face negotiations since the American president lifted sanctions on Moscow. The US Embassy on Saturday that it was 'aware of a credible threat' of an event that could cause mass casualties at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve in Moscow Speaking to The Sun, Ukraine's wartime leader said the meeting, originally penciled in for the end of November, could happen much sooner.Kyiv had proposed holding talks this Sunday but will wait until after Americans vote in the midterm elections.Zelensky said he remained hopeful of progress and was prepared to discuss even sensitive issues to keep negotiations moving.But he urged Trump, who has accused him of obstructing a deal, to change his approach towards Vladimir Putin and recognize Russia as the aggressor.Speaking from his fortified presidential compound in Kyiv, Zelensky said: 'We are ready to speak, we are ready for negotiations, any kind of format, we are even ready to speak about any kind of topics, sensitive topics for us.'He acknowledged that even discussing some subjects might be unfair to Ukraine, but said he did not want his country to be portrayed as blocking the peace process. Zelensky accused the US of disrupting planned talks in Brussels on Monday after inviting a Ukrainian delegation, only to postpone the meeting at the last minute to concentrate on developments in the Middle East.It is unclear who might be targeting the museum, but the alert comes as tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate. Yesterday, Ukraine struck an oil refinery in Russia On Thursday, Russia used drones and missile strikes to kill at least 27 civilians in UkraineUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed earlier this week that fresh peace talks between Russia and Ukraine could take place as early as November 10Tsaritsyno was established in 1775 as a country estate for Catherine the Great. By the 19th century, it became a popular park. At the end of the Soviet period, the estate was restored and opened as a museum in 2007. The museum sees around two million visitors per year.