EU Weighs Visa Ban on Russian Soldiers in 21st Sanctions Package as Russian Visas Rise to 632,000
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jun 11
EU Weighs Visa Ban on Russian Soldiers in 21st Sanctions Package as Russian Visas Rise to 632,000
3 articles · Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jun 11
Summary
The European Commission wants current and former Russian soldiers added to the EU’s 21st sanctions package, with adoption hoped for in July.
Nordic and Baltic states pushed the idea in February and March, arguing ex-servicemen could aid Moscow’s shadow war in Europe; one EU official called the ban a first step.
632,000 visas were granted to Russian citizens by EU countries in 2025, up from 462,000 in 2023, with France, Italy and Spain issuing roughly three-quarters of them.
A January 2026 EU visa strategy points to broader targeted restrictions in an early-2027 visa code revision, potentially covering diplomats, combatants and non-essential travelers.
Any wider clampdown faces political limits because member states issue visas themselves, and sanctions packages still require unanimous EU approval.
As Russia's crypto evasion network hits $100 billion, can the EU's latest sanctions finally unplug Moscow's digital war chest?
With Russian billionaires thriving while poverty grows, are EU sanctions weakening Putin's regime or strengthening his elite allies?
EU Unveils 21st Sanctions Package Against Russia: Systemic Crackdown on War Economy, Energy, and Crypto Evasion (June 2026)
Overview
On June 9, 2026, the European Commission unveiled its 21st sanctions package against Russia, marking a shift from targeting individuals to applying systemic pressure on Russia’s main revenue sources. The package freezes the oil price cap at $44.10 for six months to prevent Moscow from gaining extra profits as global oil prices rise. It also introduces tighter controls on Russian liquefied natural gas, especially tanker resales, and targets third-country oil refiners and traders to close loopholes. These measures reflect the EU’s ongoing strategy to dismantle the economic foundations supporting Russia’s war economy.