[2][3] Rainsford attended secondary school in the Midlands and then graduated with a degree in languages, specialising in Russian and French, from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.

As part of her studies, she spent a year abroad in Saint Petersburg.

[4] Rainsford was informed by the Russian government in mid-August 2021 that her visa would not be renewed, in effect expelling her as part of retaliatory actions between the United Kingdom and Russia over news coverage.

[5][6][7][8] Tim Davie, the Director-General of the BBC, stated that "the expulsion of Sarah Rainsford is a direct assault on media freedom which we condemn unreservedly.

In the meantime, we will continue to report events in the region independently and impartially.