AI search "How many people have fled to Russia seeking safety and escaping threatening political assaults?"

How many people have fled to Russia seeking safety and escaping threatening political assaults? 

As of January 2026, the number of people who have fled to 

Russia

 for safety varies significantly depending on the group and their legal status. While millions of Ukrainians have crossed into Russia since 2022, official political asylum figures for other groups remain low. 

Ukrainian Displaced Persons

The largest group entering Russia seeking safety consists of Ukrainians fleeing the ongoing war. 

• Total Estimates: Estimates for the total number of Ukrainians who have fled into Russia range from 3 million to 10 million.
• Current Status: As of late 2025, approximately 75,941 Ukrainian citizens were officially recorded as fleeing conflict in Southeast Ukraine. 

Political Asylum and Refugee Status

While large numbers enter Russia, formal legal recognition for "political safety" is rare due to extremely low approval rates. 

• Refugee Recognition: Russian authorities are known for denying formal refugee status; the approval rate typically ranges from only 2% to 5%.
• Historical Figures: In 2022, it was reported that 1,230,131 people had been granted some form of asylum in Russia, though the vast majority of these cases were likely related to temporary protection for Ukrainians rather than individual political asylum.
• Official Refugee Stats: As of November 2025, UNHCR figures listed approximately 11,147 refugees under its mandate within the Russian Federation. 

Other Seeking Safety

• Afghans: Individuals from Afghanistan have historically constituted the largest number of individual asylum seekers in Russia, making up over 70% of applications.
• Migrant Inflows: Russia continues to see large inflows from former Soviet (CIS) countries like Armenia, Tajikistan, and Belarus. For 2026, Russia has set a labor migrant quota of 279,000 to address workforce shortages, specifically targeting countries like India, China, and various African nations. 

Conversely, since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, an estimated 1 million Russians have left their own country for political or economic reasons, though roughly 15% to 45% are estimated to have returned as of early 2026. 

Who are some of the Americans among that group?

As of January 2026, several high-profile Americans and hundreds of "ideological immigrants" have sought safety or residence in Russia, often citing political persecution or a rejection of "neoliberal" Western values. 

High-Profile Political Figures

• Edward Snowden: The most well-known American in Russia, the former National Security Agency contractor was granted asylum in 2013 after leaking classified documents. He was granted permanent residency in 2020 and Russian citizenship in 2022.
• Tara Reade: A former U.S. Senate staffer who accused President Joe Biden of sexual assault, Reade moved to Russia in May 2023. She stated she felt "safe" in Moscow and requested Russian citizenship, citing threats to her safety in the U.S. 

"Shared Values" and Ideological Immigrants 

A growing group of Americans has utilized a 2024 Russian executive order allowing temporary residency for those rejecting "destructive neoliberal ideological attitudes". 

• The Huffman Family: A family from Texas moved to Russia in 2025 to escape what they called "LGBT indoctrination" in U.S. schools. Derek Huffman later voluntarily joined the Russian military to expedite his family's citizenship process.
• The Hare Family: Also from Texas, this family was granted "spiritual asylum" in 2025. They described Russia as an "ark of safety" for their traditional Christian values.
• Expats and Influencers: Individuals like Joseph Rose and former Marine Dan Castle have moved to Russia (with Castle living in Siberia) and run YouTube channels promoting life in Russia as a return to "1950s America". 

Statistics for 2026

• Applications: As of late 2025, approximately 127 Americans were among the 1,500 "ideological immigrants" who had applied for temporary residence under the new shared values visa scheme.
• Permanent Residents: Approximately 20,000 U.S. citizens currently reside permanently in Russia for various personal, professional, or political reasons.