July 16, 2025

No More Summers in Turkey?


No More Summers in Turkey?
Tourists spending a day at the beach in Antalya, Turkey. 71ergun, Wikimedia Commons.

Turkey has become a summer travel hotspot for Russians, given the sanctions that prevent them from visiting Western destinations. However, pro-war bloggers have now begun a campaign to discourage Russian tourism to the Mediterranean country, claiming that their visit funds a Ukrainian Secret Service (SBU) campaign to buy drones.

In early July, Latvia announced that Turkey and Belgium had joined the twenty-country Drone Coalition that it heads up. Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spuds said, “Joining the coalition of new allies will provide Ukraine with even more targeted and effective support on the battlefield in the fight against the aggressor.” 

Turkey’s actions added fuel to its growing tensions with Russia. Ukraine had purchased Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones in 2019, 2021, and after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. In response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, “Turkish weapons are used by the Ukrainian armed forces to kill Russian personnel and civilians.” The Turkish government claimed that Ukraine acquired the drones through a private company and not inter-state transactions.

Despite being in NATO, Turkey has not sanctioned Russia since 2022. The country became Moscow’s door to the world as a hub for transportation and commerce. And it has long been a popular vacation destination; in 2024 alone, 6.7 million Russians traveled to the country. The Turkish Statistical Institute estimated that tourists from Russia spent an average $972 per capita. 

Pro-war bloggers let their feelings be known after Turkey’s latest move. On July 6, the telegram channel Two Majors uploaded a post titled “Rested in Turkey - Helped the armed forces in Ukraine.” The group wrote, “The vacations of our fellow citizens in Turkey (...) became unpatriotic.” Two Majors said that the Turkish government had been “spreading its pernicious influence on former republics of the USSR, as we see with the example of Azerbaijan.”

Pro-war blogger Kirill Fedorov said on Radio Rossii, "those who go to Turkey leave money there, [and] donate R500,000 for drones." Fedorov then said, "Anyone who vacationed in Turkey during the war has paid the Ukrainians to kill a neighbor, son, brother... Don't give a damn about our soldiers. Go. The blood will be on your conscience."

State news agencies followed suit, publishing op-eds urging travelers to boycott Turkey. Ria Novosti published a column called "So What: Seven Million Russian Patriots Will Finance Drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine." Singer Vika Tsyganova also jumped on the bandwagon, saying, "If there is a choice, go to a Russian resort and pay an unjustified price, or go to Turkey to pay much less, and donate the money saved to the [war], it is not clear which of these is better."

Meanwhile, State Duma Committee of Tourism and Development of Tourism chairman Sangadzhi Tabaev suggested taxing Russians who leave on vacation abroad.

You Might Also Like

The
  • July 14, 2025

The "No" Exhibition

Russian journalists in exile collaborated with international artists on an exhibition celebrating resistance.
Tightening Trade Ties
  • June 29, 2025

Tightening Trade Ties

Russia and Belarus celebrate a record year for trade between them in 2024. No surprise there.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka
November 01, 2012

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955