The European Union is closing its doors a little tighter on Russia. Nearly four years into Moscow’s war on Ukraine, Brussels announced Friday it will no longer issue multi-entry visas to Russian nationals, citing rising concerns over espionage, drone disruptions, and sabotage across the continent.
“Starting a war and expecting to move freely in Europe is hard to justify,” EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said on X, underscoring the bloc’s hardening stance.
Under the new rules, Russian travelers must apply for a new visa each time they plan to visit the EU, allowing border authorities to scrutinize applications more closely. Limited exemptions will remain for independent journalists, human rights defenders, and other special cases.
The decision follows mounting reports of “hybrid warfare”, airspace incursions and unexplained drone sightings rattling security officials from the Baltics to the Mediterranean.
The EU had already suspended its visa facilitation deal with Russia in 2022 and tightened restrictions on Russian diplomats last month. Still, the number of approved visas has begun to creep upward again, largely through tourism in France, Spain, and Italy.
The move has reignited debate within Europe’s political circles. Hardliners insist ordinary Russians must share the burden of the war, while critics including opposition figure Yulia Navalnaya warn that sweeping bans risk deepening Moscow’s isolation.
“Cutting off Russian society only strengthens the Kremlin’s hand,” Navalnaya wrote to Kallas, urging the EU to focus sanctions on President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle instead.
