Ukraine introduced a visa regime for Russian citizens

The authorities of Ukraine from July 1 introduced a visa regime for Russian citizens.

To get a Ukrainian visa, residents of Russia can contact one of the VFS Global visa centers in eight Russian cities-in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don or Samara.

Applications will be considered by Ukrainian diplomats in third countries, since after the start of the Russian military invasion, Ukraine has broken diplomatic relations with Russia, and all Ukrainian diplomats left the country.

At the same time, the Ukrainian authorities emphasize that even the presence of a visa does not guarantee a one hundred percent pass of a Russian citizen into the country. The final decision will be behind the border guards on the checkpoint.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, announcing visas for Russians, said in mid -June that the authorities took such a step "in the framework of counteracting unprecedented threats of national security."

The Ukrainian government made a decision on visa regime with Russia after an appropriate electronic petition appeared on the website of the president’s office. Zelensky supported her as soon as she collected more than 25 thousand signatures necessary for consideration.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that possible retaliatory measures can be taken, "based on Russian national interests and taking into account the humanitarian component."

The visa -free regime between Russia and Ukraine continued to act even after the annexation of Crimea and the beginning of a military conflict in the Donbass. Russians could be in Ukraine until 90 days every six months. They could enter only with a passport and a thorough check on the border. After 2014, the number of Russian citizens entering Ukraine decreased significantly.

The State Border Service reported that in 2021, half a million Russians crossed the border with Ukraine. Seven thousand were refused for various reasons. The number of Russians entered during the war is unknown. Now all border points with Russia and Belarus are closed. Russians can enter Ukraine only from other countries: Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and Moldova.