I tried to post it in another section - but it appears no new topics are accepted there, so I will have one last go at a quick trip report instead:
I've just returned from a 20-day trip to Russia, visiting Moscow, Kazan, and about half a dozen wineries/eco resorts in Krasnodar region.
My intent was to visit family friends in Kazan, Tatarstan, which I did, and then join them for a week-long tour of wineries in Krasnodar region. I also spent several days in Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent, and a side trip to magnificent Samarkand on the way there (e-visa was a bit of a pain, but everything worked out in the end). I'm somewhat familiar with the region and the risks involved: it was my second trip to Russia (the first one was well before the war) - and, coincidentally, a second visit to Uzbekistan.
The winery tour was very interesting - most of these have been established in early 2000s, and are just now entering full-scale production. Not much of a wine connoisseur, but by the end of the tour I feel I started gaining some appreciation for subtle differences in taste, aroma, etc. Nice, but I still prefer other drinks.
Two specific logistical things that are worth mentioning:
1) Random additional scrutiny at the Russian border. I had a 40-minute random check on the way out. My phone was not checked or taken from me, but the conversation was fairly thorough, covering my itinerary, connection to armed forces, local contacts, and history of previous travel.
2) Highly recommend to open a local bank account in Russia. It takes minutes and makes traveling inside the country a lot easier. I used Tinkoff bank, the process takes about 15 minutes online, a courier brought the card and a SIM card to the hotel. Please note these Russian cards will only work in Russia and a couple other countries - so only put there whatever you budgeted to spend in Russia in the first place.
Will be happy to take questions (or hear out any comments you might have).
Cheers!
R.