BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – The European Union has implemented a ban on issuing multi-entry Schengen visas to Russian citizens, a move Brussels says is a necessary security measure in response to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and associated hybrid threats. The decision, which took effect in early November 2025, has drawn sharp criticism from Russian opposition figures, who argue it will isolate anti-war citizens while failing to impact the Kremlin's elite.

Announced on Friday, November 7, 2025 (EAT), the policy change means Russian nationals must now apply for a new single-entry visa for each trip to the 29-country Schengen Area. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated the decision was a direct response to “unprecedented drone disruptions and sabotage on our soil” linked to Russia. “Travelling to and freely moving within the EU is a privilege, not a given,” Kallas remarked, emphasizing the heightened security risks.

The European Commission elaborated that the stricter, more frequent vetting of applicants is designed to mitigate risks of espionage, disinformation, and other destabilizing activities. This measure builds upon previous actions, including the suspension of the EU-Russia visa facilitation agreement in 2022. The number of Schengen visas issued to Russians had already dropped significantly, from over four million in 2019 to approximately 500,000 in 2023.

A Counterproductive Strategy?

However, prominent critics of Vladimir Putin's government have condemned the visa ban. Jailed opposition politician Ilya Yashin, who was freed in a 2024 prisoner exchange and now resides in Germany, called the decision part of a trend that wrongly targets ordinary Russians. “You can’t blame a whole country for the actions of its government,” Yashin said in an interview. He argued that the Kremlin's elite would “always find loopholes” while the restrictions would harm “many anti-war Russians and people who want to see changes in Russia.”

Exiled journalist Sergey Parkhomenko echoed this sentiment, describing the policy as “extraordinary in its idiocy, ineffectiveness and demonstrative helplessness.” He contended that the measure would not affect Russian officials and saboteurs, who often travel on diplomatic passports, but would instead complicate life for civil society figures. Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, had also previously warned the EU against such a ban, arguing it would feed into the Kremlin's isolationist propaganda and punish the wrong people.

The new rules include limited exceptions for specific groups, such as close family members of EU residents, transport workers, and, on a discretionary basis, individuals deemed to have unquestionable integrity like human rights defenders, dissidents, and independent journalists. However, Parkhomenko noted that receiving such a special visa could effectively mark an individual as a dissident to Russian authorities.

Global Context and Lack of Direct Kenyan Impact

The EU's action is part of a broader strategy to counter Russian hybrid warfare, which includes sanctions against individuals and entities involved in disinformation and cyberattacks. In October 2025, the EU also agreed to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats within the bloc to curb alleged espionage.

For Kenya and the wider East Africa region, the direct implications of the Schengen visa ban appear minimal. There have been no official statements from the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the African Union (AU) regarding this specific visa policy. The AU's previous engagement on sanctions has focused on the collateral economic impacts, such as food and fertilizer supply disruptions, rather than travel restrictions on Russian nationals. In 2022, AU Chair Macky Sall raised concerns that excluding Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system could complicate payments for essential goods.

Kenya's diplomatic posture has been one of strategic non-alignment, condemning the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty at the UN while also maintaining relations with Moscow. In a move to foster ties, Russia recently expanded its simplified e-visa program to include Kenya, allowing for short-term tourist and business travel. This contrasts sharply with the EU's tightening restrictions.

The Russian government has denounced the EU's visa ban, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova mocking the decision. Moscow has stated it is preparing retaliatory measures, which will be determined after assessing the practical impact of the EU's restrictions. The new policy underscores the deepening divide between Russia and the West, with critics arguing it risks erecting a new “iron curtain” that isolates the very Russians who may be most open to democratic values.