The EU is preparing stricter rules for Russian diplomats, according to media reports

Larisa Khomenko

The EU Is Preparing Tougher Restrictions on Russian Diplomats: What We Know

The EU is tightening controls on Russian diplomats / Photo by the Associated Press (for illustrative purposes only)

European Union countries are discussing the possibility of tightening restrictions and increasing scrutiny of Russian diplomats amid a wave of hybrid attacks in Europe that Western governments and intelligence agencies attribute to Russia.

The aim is to tighten controls on the movement of Russian diplomats between EU countries to prevent Russia from exploiting diplomatic status for hybrid operations and sabotage, according to Euronews.

What restrictions are being proposed?

Starting in January 2026, Russian diplomats stationed in EU countries must notify authorities of their intention to travel to another member state or transit through it at least 24 hours before entry.

The rule applies to diplomats and consular officials of all ranks, including ambassadors, administrative and technical staff, and support personnel serving staff members and their families.

At the same time, the notification system itself does not prohibit diplomats from traveling within the EU.

Member states may impose stricter requirements, under which a Russian diplomat must obtain permission to transit. If a country refuses, crossing its territory becomes impossible. Currently, only two countries apply this procedure.

The European Commission emphasizes that the mechanism has only been in effect since January, so experience with its application is still limited.

Why the EU Is Targeting Russian Diplomats Again

In recent months, there has been an increase in incidents in Europe linked to Russian hybrid activities. These include a suspected arson attack on a defense company facility in Estonia and the discovery of an unexploded drone at Leipzig Airport in Germany.

The EU has described such incidents as attempts at Russian hybrid warfare and sabotage, manifesting in attacks on critical infrastructure, information operations, and airspace violations.

The EU intends to go further

The EU introduced its first mechanism to monitor the movements of Russian diplomats as part of the 19th sanctions package.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas stated that the EU could further restrict the movement of Russian diplomats within the Schengen Area. Among the measures she mentioned were a ban on issuing visas to former Russian military personnel and a review of the rules for issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens.

We previously reported that Hungary has decided to expel 10 Russian diplomats. Budapest stated that their activities were unacceptable under the Vienna Convention. Ukraine supported this measure at the time.

Channel 24 had previously reported on the increase in Russian hybrid attacks. In particular, Danish military intelligence stated that Moscow may escalate sabotage and cyberattacks against European countries in the coming months.