The key facts

  • On October 31, the US Embassy warned of a credible threat of mass casualties at Tsaritsyno (1 Dolskaya Street)
  • The FSB confirmed receiving information from the American side and said appropriate work was being carried out
  • The museum initially operated as normal but was later closed, with the entrance blocked by police

Embassy warning and the FSB response

On October 31, 2026, the US Embassy in Moscow announced that it had information about a “credible threat of an event with mass casualties” on the same day at the Tsaritsyno museum-reserve at 1 Dolskaya Street. The warning said that the US government was coordinating response measures with Russian authorities, and American citizens were advised not to visit the museum, stay away from crowds, remain vigilant, monitor local media, keep their phones charged, and carry identification documents. The nature of the possible event and the source of the threat were not disclosed.

FSB confirmation and the museum's plans

Russia's Federal Security Service confirmed that the American side had informed Russian security services through “cooperation channels” about a planned terrorist attack in Moscow, and stated that appropriate work was being carried out on this matter; Russian officials did not disclose any other details — as reported by the TASS news agency. According to the outlet Vazhnye Istorii (Important Stories), concerts were scheduled at Tsaritsyno that day: at 5:00 pm at the Bread House and at 6:00 pm in the Bazhenov Hall.

The museum: from “normal operations” to closure

The picture changed over the course of the day. The outlet Fontanka reported that when it called the museum's single phone line, it was told that Tsaritsyno was operating as normal. However, according to a journalist from Ostorozhno Media, the museum-reserve was later closed “for technical reasons”: police arrived at the site and the entrance was blocked off; according to the journalist, the situation remained calm and there were few visitors.

The 2024 precedent

The outlets recall that in March 2024, before the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, the US Embassy had also warned of a possible attack on mass events in Moscow, including concerts; at that time, Americans were advised not to attend large gatherings for 48 hours. Sources cite this coincidence as background context, not as an assessment of the current threat.