Over 1.3 Million Russians Have Entered EU Through Its Land Borders Since Feb.24
In addition, the same has said that over 1,273,000 Russian citizens have returned to Russia via its land borders with the EU throughout this period, AtoZSerwisPlus.pl reports.
The number of Russians leaving their country for the EU has especially increased in the last week following the announcement of the partial mobilisation.
According to Frontex, over the past week, from September 19 until September 25, nearly 66,000 citizens of Russia entered the EU, more than 30 per cent compared to the preceding week. The majority of them arrived in Finland and Estonia. Finland alone has registered a total of 30,000 entries made by Russians over the past week.
“Most of the Russian citizens are entering the EU through Finnish and Estonian border crossing points. The number of border crossings has significantly increased in Finland following the announced mobilisation in the Russian Federation,” the statement of Frontex reads.
Frontex explains that most Russians who have entered the EU hold residence permits or visas to the EU Member States, and some others have dual citizenships. It has been noted that the EU Member States are also reporting entries by citizens of Ukraine in need of temporary protection as they flee the eastern occupied region of Ukraine via Russia.
Apart from the above-mentioned, Frontex estimates that illegal border crossing is likely to increase if Russia decides to close the border for potential conscripts.
According to Frontex, in the short term, it is likely to see a growing number of Russians arriving at border crossing points to the EU due to the uncertainty regarding the ongoing mobilisation.
As for the longer term, it has been noted that the EU might register an increased number of illegal border crossings as its external borders with Russia and Ukraine and an increase in the illegal stays in the EU by citizens of Russia who are already present in the Member States.
The four EU countries that border Russia – Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland – have already introduced restrictions for citizens of Russia. On September 19, these countries imposed an entry ban for Russian citizens and said that they would no longer issue Schengen visas for them.