Europe: Conflict-related sanctions and restrictions continue to cause disruptions throughout the region as of July 7 /update 111

Event

Sanctions and restrictions imposed by various governments in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine continue to cause disruptions across Europe as of July 7.

Travel Restrictions
Multiple governments, including Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Poland, the UK, and the US, have issued travel advisories calling on their nationals to avoid travel to Russia and for those currently in that country to depart by commercial means immediately or when it is safe to do so. The US State Department has a standing travel advisory, last updated Feb. 13, that warns of the threat of Russian security services arresting US citizens on spurious charges and singling out US nationals for detention and harassment. Multiple countries, including Canada, France, the UK, and the US, also strongly advise their citizens against traveling to Belarus.

On June 26, Latvia indefinitely suspended all visa applications from Russian nationals in response to the Wagner Group mutiny. Authorities in Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, and the Czech Republic had previously imposed restrictions on Russian citizens who hold Schengen tourist and work visas from entering their countries. The Bobrowniki border crossing point between Poland and Belarus remains closed. The Lithuanian government has ended a border control agreement with Belarus. Belarusian authorities have warned of long queues of cars and lorries at border crossings with Lithuania and Poland.

Moscow has banned certain categories of EU officials from entering Russia in response to EU sanctions and continued weapons shipments to Ukraine. The ban includes unspecified senior EU military officials, law-enforcement officials, citizens engaged in promoting anti-Russian sentiment, and representatives of European defense companies involved in delivering military equipment to Ukraine.

Heightened Security and General Disruptions
Security force deployments and counterterrorism regimes introduced in Moscow and the wider Moscow Oblast, as well as the Voronezh Oblast, in response to the Wagner Group's incursion into southwestern regions of Russia June 23-25 have been lifted. While the counterterrorism regimes have been officially lifted, heightened security measures, including additional security force patrols and identification checks, may persist in affected cities, including Rostov-on-Don and Voronezh.

Ukraine-aligned Russian separatist groups the Free Russia Legion (LSR) and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) have claimed responsibility for cross-border raids into Russia's Belgorod Oblast from Ukraine, prompting Russian authorities to deploy security forces in the region. Kyiv denies any involvement in the attacks.

Regional authorities in Russia previously implemented increased security measures in regions bordering Ukraine, including the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk oblasts. These will likely persist for the duration of the conflict. Cross-border artillery shelling occasionally strikes border villages in Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk oblasts, often in response to artillery fire from Russia, and there are reports of covert Ukrainian activity in Russian territory.

Russia has also increased the terrorism threat level to the maximum "Security Level 3" at Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), Domodedovo Airport (DME), and Vnukovo International Airport (VKO) in Moscow in addition to Pulkovo Airport (LED) in Saint Petersburg. Enhanced security measures, including additional patrols and checkpoints, and intensive baggage, vehicle, and passenger checks are likely while Security Level 3 is in force, prompting possible passenger processing delays.

Several countries bordering Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia have implemented heightened security. Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, and Latvia have enacted states of emergency. Ukraine has closed its border checkpoints with Belarus, Russia, and the breakaway Transnistria region of Moldova to foreign nationals; however, Ukrainian citizens are permitted to return. Belarus has also implemented enhanced security measures on its border with Ukraine.

Cyber Threats
Russian-backed hackers have maintained a constant campaign of cyberattacks against Ukrainian, NATO, EU, and other Western entities, principally targeting government and defense-related organizations. Cyberattacks are often carried out in response to actions of target governments or entities perceived to be against Russia's interests. Cyber security analysts have identified Russian military intelligence as becoming more aggressive and more direct in the nature of its attacks.

The European Investment Bank confirmed on June 19 that pro-Russian hackers had launched a cyberattack that affected the availability of the bank's websites. The cyberattack was claimed by the pro-Russia hacker group, Killnet. The cyberattack comes days after several pro-Russia hacktivist groups, including Killnet, Anonymous Sudan, and REvil, proclaimed themselves as the "Darknet Parliament" and announced their intention to disrupt Western banking transfer systems, including the SWIFT system that is used to facilitate most international monetary and security transfers, and thus the flow of funding to Ukraine.

Transport Disruptions
Russia has extended a ban on road freight transportation for companies based in nations recognizing sanctions against Russia through Dec. 30. This applies to road freight traveling to Russia and transiting Russia toward third countries. Various goods are exempt from the ban. The Russian Ministry of Transport has declared that the delivery of goods from these countries by road will be carried out by trans-shipping the freight to domestic carriers in border areas in the Pskov, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, and Murmansk oblasts, the Republic of Karelia, and Saint Petersburg. The regulations do not apply to the Kaliningrad Oblast.

Reciprocal flight bans and airspace closures remain in effect between Russia and numerous Western-aligned countries, including EU member states, the UK, Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan. The EU has also banned overflights of its airspace by Belarusian airlines. Ukrainian airspace remains closed to all commercial air traffic. Turkish authorities have suspended flights by Russian-operated Boeing and Airbus aircraft due to the international sanctions, which significantly reducing air travel between the two countries.

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) has indefinitely suspended flight operations at ten airports in southwestern parts of the country and at one airport in Russian-annexed Crimea. Impacted facilities include Anapa Airport (AAQ), Belgorod International Airport (EGO), Bryansk International Airport (BZK), Elista International Airport (ESL), Gelendzhik Airport (GDZ), Krasnodar International Airport (KRR), Kursk Vostochny Airport (URS), Lipetsk Airport (LPK), Rostov-on-Don Airport (RVI), and Voronezh International Airport (VOZ) in Russia, in addition to Simferopol International Airport (SIP) in Russian-annexed Crimea.

The threat from naval mines in the Black Sea is likely to remain elevated through 2023. In recent weeks, mines have been sighted off the Bulgarian, Georgian, and Turkish coasts. The International Maritime Organization has issued advisories concerning the ongoing danger posed to maritime navigation by drifting sea mines, primarily in the Black Sea's Northwest, West, and Southwest sectors.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative ended on July 17 following Russian accusations that Western sanctions were impacting its own ability to export grain and fertilizer. The UN-backed accord brokered between Russia, Turkiye, and Ukraine provided for the safe passage of grain and other foodstuffs from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi to an inspection point near Istanbul. A warning issued by Russia immediately following the end of the agreement stated that it would no longer be able to guarantee the security of vessels operating in the northwestern Black Sea. The Russian defense ministry has since stated that all vessels en route to Ukrainian ports would be “considered as potential carriers of military cargo” and that the flag states of such vessels would be considered as directly involved in the ongoing conflict. Without the Initiative in place, the maritime shipment of grains from Ukrainian ports will almost certainly cease as insurance providers are likely to refuse cover for vessels operating in the northwestern Black Sea. Further negotiations between Turkiye and Russia over the issue are expected in the coming weeks.

Sanctions and Diplomatic Relations
The EU agreed to impose an eleventh package of sanctions against Russia June 21. These extend a ban on many goods from transiting through Russia and, for the first time, include restrictions on third countries perceived to be not doing enough to stop Moscow from evading the bloc’s sanctions or who are allegedly helping Russia to do so, including Armenia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. The EU will restrict the sale and transfer of sensitive technology and dual-use products to countries that are believed to be facilitating the circumvention of sanctions. The new sanctions also target a limited number of non-Russian companies that are suspected of assisting sanctions evasion, including three China-based companies, some companies from the UAE and Uzbekistan, and Hungary’s largest commercial bank, OTP Bank. These packages are closely coordinated with those imposed by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway.

Multiple governments have expelled numerous Russian diplomats on various grounds, including espionage and other national security concerns, provoking reciprocal expulsions by Moscow. Such tit-for-tat moves may reduce available consular services in each country, though core services will likely be maintained while diplomatic missions remain open. Aside from governmental sanctions, hundreds of companies have voluntarily suspended or terminated their Russian operations.

Advice

Confirm flight status with carriers; do not check out of accommodations until onward travel is confirmed. Avoid nonessential travel to affected border regions. Heed authorities' instructions; remain calm and cooperative if questioned by law enforcement officers or other officials. Carry proper identification, including a passport with a current Russian or Belarusian visa, if one is required. Prepare for disruptions to card payments in Russia. Ensure alternative payment methods are available. Refrain from discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine or other politically sensitive topics, including on social media services.