Estonia bars additional Russian veterans from Schengen travel

Yesterday 09:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Estonia bars additional Russian veterans from Schengen travel

Estonia has imposed entry bans on 1,073 additional Russian fighters who took part in the war against Ukraine, blocking their access to the Schengen area in a move that significantly expands Tallinn’s efforts to restrict the movement of combatants linked to Moscow’s military campaign. The decision was announced by Interior Minister Igor Taro, who framed the measure as a matter of collective European security rather than a symbolic sanction.

According to the minister, individuals who have fought in Ukraine and remain involved in hostilities have been implicated in killings, destruction, sexual violence, and looting. Preventing such actors from entering Europe’s shared security space is intended to protect public safety across the continent. The announcement, reported by ERR, underscores Estonia’s position that participation in the war should carry tangible personal consequences beyond the battlefield.

The latest bans follow an earlier round of 261 entry prohibitions introduced in early January. With the new additions, Estonia has now denied access to more than 1,300 people connected to Russian military operations in Ukraine. Authorities argue that historical experience from conflicts involving Russia, including Afghanistan and Chechnya, shows that some returning fighters later gravitate toward violence and organized crime, heightening long term security risks.

Estonian officials estimate that up to 1.5 million Russian citizens have taken part in the war since 2022, with roughly 640,000 still deployed along the front line. Taro has insisted that it is unacceptable for individuals to move freely and enjoy leisure in Europe after participating in acts of war, stressing that accountability must extend into civilian life.

Tallinn is now pressing for similar measures to be adopted across the European Union. The proposal was presented by Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, where he argued that there should be no route from Bucha to Brussels for those involved in the conflict. Support has reportedly emerged from several member states, including Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, and the Baltic countries.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has confirmed that many member states view the issue as a clear security concern and have agreed to further examine the proposal. Lithuania has also voiced backing, warning that former Russian combatants could be exploited for sabotage, subversion, or organized crime activities across Europe.

Despite growing political support, officials acknowledge that implementing a bloc wide ban would be complex. Adding hundreds of thousands of names to the Schengen blacklist would require substantial administrative effort and coordination. Estonia has urged its partners to share the workload involved in identifying and registering those deemed ineligible for entry.

The matter has been discussed at an informal EU summit in Cyprus, alongside bilateral talks between Estonia and interior ministers from other member states. According to RFE/RL, Tallinn has circulated a discussion paper calling for a comprehensive Schengen entry ban, as well as the denial of visas and residence permits, for all identified Russian nationals who have taken part in the war against Ukraine.