Russia Tightens Rules on Power Banks for Air Travel: Charging Banned Onboard

Travelers flying in and out of Russia will soon need to pack their power banks with more care. The country’s Ministry of Transport has announced new regulations for carrying portable chargers on planes, effective immediately. Under the updated rules, passengers are no longer allowed to charge their power banks during the flight. The devices must remain switched off for the entire journey, and connecting them to other electronics is also prohibited.

The ministry’s official Telegram channel clarified the new capacity limits. Power banks up to 100 watt-hours can be carried without special permission. Those between 100 and 160 watt-hours require prior approval from the airline. Any battery exceeding 160 watt-hours is now banned outright. If a passenger cannot prove the capacity of their device, airline staff may refuse to let it onboard. In that case, the power bank can be handed to someone seeing the traveler off or left in an airport storage locker.

Airlines may also ask passengers to stow their power bank under the seat in front of them or in the seatback pocket. The move follows a proposal earlier this year to ban power banks entirely after a series of onboard incidents involving overheating and fires. The ministry says the new rules aim to balance safety with passenger convenience, but travelers should expect stricter checks at security.