Lithuania to Ban Entry to Schengen for 600 Russians Who Fought Against Ukraine

Lithuania plans to prohibit hundreds of Russians who participated in the war against Ukraine from entering its territory and the Schengen Area. According to the Lithuanian Migration Department, the country has identified almost 600 Russian military personnel involved in hostilities.

The department stated that these individuals will be promptly added to the list of undesirable persons in Lithuania and to the Schengen Information System, which entails an entry ban. The ban on entry to Lithuania will be valid for 10 years, and to the Schengen Area for 5 years, with the possibility of extending these terms.

This move follows previous measures. In March, the Lithuanian Ministry of Internal Affairs had already identified and listed 268 participants in hostilities against Ukraine. Thus, the total number of Russian military personnel who will be banned from entry will reach almost 900. Estonia, which first initiated such measures at the EU level, has already listed over 1000 Russian military personnel.

In March, eight EU member states urged the EU leadership to ban former Russian military personnel from entering the Schengen Area, and this idea continues to be discussed. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha welcomed the EU's readiness to take such steps.