The Estonian Foreign Minister called for a ban on issuing visas to Russians who fought in the war.
The Estonian Foreign Minister called for a complete ban on the issuance of Schengen visas and residence permits in the EU to persons who fought on the side of Russia in Ukraine.
Minister Margus Tsakhna explained his call in an author’s article published by the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ).
“Former servicemen of the Russian armed forces pose a real threat to internal security. They are fertile ground for recruitment into the Russian special services and can be used for sabotage, destabilization, cyber attacks, mobilization of extremists and organized crime in Europe,” the article says.
In January 2026, Estonia imposed an entry ban on 261 Russians who participated in military operations on the territory of Ukraine.
In March 2022, Estonia stopped issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens.
