How to send money to Russia and Ukraine from the USA legally: sanctions, services, reporting

You can send money to Russia from the USA legally: OFAC (the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control) says its sanctions do not target transactions related to personal remittances. The hard part is practical. Western Union, Remitly and Wise say on their own pages that they do not serve Russia, and many Russian banks are blocked. Sending money to Ukraine is routine, with several services to choose from.

This guide covers what the rules say, which channels remain, what you have to report and where the legal risk starts. It is general information, not legal advice for your case.

What OFAC sanctions allow for transfers to Russia

For a private person, the key text is OFAC's FAQ list. FAQ 1091 says sanctions do not target transactions related to personal remittances, telecommunications, internet services or mail. The prohibitions mainly concern dealings with blocked persons, including banks.

The limit is the route. Many Russian banks are on OFAC's blocked list. FAQ 974 names the banks blocked in February 2022: VEB, Promsvyazbank, VTB, Otkritie, Sovcombank, Novikombank and many of their subsidiaries. It says US persons are prohibited from transacting with these banks unless exempt or authorized by OFAC, and that entities 50 percent or more owned by blocked persons are blocked too. So know the recipient's bank and check it against OFAC's sanctions lists first.

• US dollar cash. Exporting US banknotes to Russia is generally banned. FAQ 1028 explains that General License 18 authorizes noncommercial, personal remittances in dollar banknotes to an individual in Russia, including ATM withdrawals and carrying the cash yourself.
• Your own Russian bank account. Under FAQ 1080, a US person's account at a blocked Russian bank is generally blocked property. You must stop using it and file a blocking report with OFAC within 10 business days. General License 50 lets individuals close the account and move the balance out, followed by an unblocking report within 10 business days.
• Personal, not business. Money for living costs, medical bills or school is a personal remittance. Paying a business or investing in Russia falls under different rules; talk to a lawyer.

Why Western Union and other services do not serve Russia

We opened the Russia pages of the large transfer services. This is what each says:

Checked October 28, 2026 on each provider's site.

Western Union's Russia page dates from 2022: the notice, updated April 29, 2022, says the company does not anticipate resuming service in Russia or Belarus in 2022. The page carries no newer notice, so as of October 28, 2026 the suspension still stands. Things can change, so check the provider's own country page before you send, not a forum post.

How to send money to family in Russia legally

With the big services closed, two options are described in OFAC's own texts, each with limits.

1. A bank wire from a US bank to a non-blocked Russian bank. OFAC says sanctions do not target personal remittances, and the prohibition is on dealings with blocked persons, so no bank in the chain can be blocked. Your bank still decides whether to process it and may refuse. Ask before you go.
2. Carrying dollar cash. General License 18 covers personal remittances in banknotes. Over $10,000 must be declared when leaving the US (see below). Russia's own customs rules are not covered here.

No US account yet? Our guide to opening a bank account in the US without an SSN lists banks and the papers you need.

Cash over $10,000 and FinCEN Form 105

Carrying large amounts is not illegal, but it must be reported. CBP (US Customs and Border Protection) requires you to report amounts over $10,000 when entering or leaving the US. The limit is for a family or group traveling together, not per person.

The report is FinCEN Form 105. You can file it online or print it and hand it to a CBP officer. It covers cash in any currency, traveler's checks, bearer money orders and checks, and bearer securities. Failing to report, or reporting falsely, can lead to seizure of the money and civil or criminal penalties, including fines or prison.

Send money to Ukraine from the USA

OFAC says US sanctions are not designed to target Ukraine or the Ukrainian people, and regular services say on their sites that they send to Ukraine.

Checked October 28, 2026 on each provider's site.

Fees and rates depend on the amount and how you pay and deliver, so we do not quote numbers. Compare the total the recipient gets, not a "no fee" banner: providers also earn on the exchange rate.

Federal rules protect any international transfer. The CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) says the provider must show the total cost, the rate and the amount received before you pay. You can usually cancel for free within 30 minutes if the money has not been picked up or deposited. You can report an error up to 180 days after the funds are available, and the company must investigate within 90 days.

If family lives in occupied regions

The so-called DNR and LNR regions are under separate US sanctions. OFAC General License 21 authorizes noncommercial, personal remittances to those regions and to people who live there, as long as no blocked person is involved. Charitable donations to an entity and money for running a business, even a family one, are not covered. Crimea falls under a separate order, Executive Order 13685. Before sending money to these regions, read OFAC's Ukraine-/Russia-related sanctions page or talk to a lawyer.

Crypto, third-country cards and couriers: the legal risk

Some people route around closed channels with crypto, cards from banks in third countries or informal "transfer" contacts from group chats. We do not explain how these work, for a reason.

You cannot see who handles the money. US persons are prohibited from dealing with blocked persons without OFAC authorization (FAQ 974), and with an unknown middleman you cannot check the chain. OFAC lists attempts to circumvent or evade US sanctions on Russia among the activities it may target (FAQ 1091). If a middleman vanishes with the money, you will most likely not get it back.

We cannot tell you how the rules apply to your case. Talk to an OFAC sanctions lawyer before sending if it involves an inheritance or apartment sale proceeds, a payment to a business, an account at a blocked bank, a transfer to the DNR, LNR or Crimea, or if your bank rejected or froze a transfer.

Accounts abroad: FBAR and taxes

If you hold accounts outside the US, including at a Russian or Ukrainian bank, you may owe an FBAR. Per FinCEN and the IRS, a United States person with a financial interest in or signature authority over foreign accounts must file if their combined value went over $10,000 at any time in the year.

Checked October 28, 2026 on fincen.gov and irs.gov.

Taxes on gifts and money received from abroad are a separate question; start with our tax basics for new immigrants. With large sums or accounts in several countries, find a Russian-speaking accountant before April 15.

Questions people ask

Am I breaking sanctions if I send money to my mother in Russia?

OFAC FAQ 1091 says sanctions do not target transactions related to personal remittances. The prohibition is on dealings with blocked persons. The practical problem is that many Russian banks are blocked and Western Union, Remitly and Wise do not serve the route, so the recipient's bank has to be checked against OFAC lists. Complex cases call for a sanctions lawyer.

Can I carry US dollar cash to Russia?

OFAC General License 18 authorizes noncommercial, personal remittances in US dollar banknotes to individuals in Russia, including carrying cash yourself. If you take more than $10,000 per family out of the US, you must file FinCEN Form 105 online or with a CBP officer. Unreported money can be seized.

Which services send money from the US to Ukraine?

Western Union and Remitly both say on their sites that they send from the US to Ukraine. Western Union delivers to bank accounts, debit cards or cash pickup, up to $5,000 per day. Remitly offers bank deposit and cash pickup. Wise says UAH transfers from the US are not available yet.

Do I need to file an FBAR for an old Russian bank account?

Yes, if you are a United States person and your foreign accounts together went over $10,000 at any time during the year. The FBAR is FinCEN Form 114, filed online by April 15 with an automatic extension to October 15. Accounts at OFAC-blocked banks also carry separate reporting rules.