The European Union has announced new visa restrictions for Russian nationals, further tightening travel access nearly four years after the war in Ukraine began.
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas confirmed the decision on Friday, saying it was unjustifiable for Russia to wage war while its citizens continue to move freely across Europe.
“Starting a war and expecting to move freely in Europe is hard to justify,” Kallas wrote on X, as the EU unveiled new measures targeting Russian travelers.
The new rules mean Russians will no longer be eligible for multiple-entry visas. Instead, they must apply for fresh visas each time they plan to visit the European Union. Officials said this will allow for more frequent background checks and reduce potential security threats.
Brussels said the move comes amid growing fears of Russian hybrid warfare, including suspected sabotage and drone incursions into European airspace. Several EU countries have reported increased surveillance activity and unexplained drone sightings near sensitive facilities.
Under the new policy, exceptions will only be granted for independent journalists and human rights defenders. The EU said these exemptions aim to ensure that those opposing the Kremlin’s war policies are not unfairly punished.
The bloc had already tightened travel rules for Russian diplomats last month as part of broader sanctions targeting Moscow’s government officials.
Hawkish EU member states have long demanded stricter visa limits, arguing that Russians should not enjoy tourism privileges while their government continues to bomb Ukrainian cities.
Since the invasion in 2022, the EU has suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia and advised member states to deprioritize visa applications from Russian citizens.
Official data shows that before the war, over four million visas were issued annually to Russians. That number dropped sharply to around 500,000 in 2023. However, EU diplomats now warn that visa approvals have started to rise again, particularly in popular destinations like France, Spain, and Italy.
While many European leaders support the restrictions, some critics argue that the policy unfairly targets ordinary Russians instead of the political elite close to President Vladimir Putin.
Yulia Navalnaya, widow of late opposition figure Alexei Navalny, has urged the EU not to isolate the wider Russian public. She argued that cutting off ordinary citizens would help the Kremlin strengthen its anti-Western propaganda.
“For the purpose of achieving peace in Europe, it is counterproductive to assist Russian authorities in isolating Russian society,” Navalnaya wrote in a letter to Kallas earlier this year.
The Kremlin has not yet officially responded to the latest EU decision, but Russian officials have previously condemned such measures as discriminatory and politically motivated.
With the war showing no signs of ending, the European Union appears determined to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on Moscow while tightening security at home.
