The European Commission has officially presented the 21st package of EU sanctions against the Russian Federation. For the first time, the sanctions package includes a ban on entry into EU countries for everyone who has served in the Russian army since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. This was announced by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on June 9, UNN reports.
I also want to mention one key point of this new aspect. For the first time, we are proposing to ban entry into the European Union for anyone who has served in the Russian armed forces since the start of the war. So Europe remains closed to anyone who participated in the invasion of Ukraine. It's as simple as that
As of 2025, according to various estimates, between 620,000 and 710,000 Russian military personnel were located in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and in border zones. The authorized strength of the Russian army may number approximately 2.3 million people.
Every day, the Russian military is involved in committing aggression against Ukraine. As of May 2026, according to information released by the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Ruslan Kravchenko, more than 256,000 crimes related to the aggression of the Russian Federation had been recorded. The Ukrainian side is taking all necessary measures to bring the perpetrators to justice. One of the mechanisms, in cases where it is physically impossible to place the accused in the dock, has been in absentia convictions. As Ruslan Kravchenko explained, these are not symbolic decisions, but a legal foundation for future arrests, confiscations, international prosecution, and real execution of punishment once the person becomes reachable by justice. It should be noted that such verdicts can serve as confirmation for European partners that a particular individual served in the Russian army, participated in the armed aggression against Ukraine, and committed war crimes.
"As of February 2026, 240 people have been convicted in absentia in Ukraine for war crimes. In total, more than 1,100 people have been notified of suspicion, and indictments against 800 people have already been sent to court," Kravchenko reported.
A national verdict is the basis for an international search, initiation of extradition procedures, restriction of a person's movement, and blocking of their financial transactions. For partner states, the existence of a court decision significantly strengthens Ukraine's position, the Prosecutor General emphasized.
According to him, international mechanisms are operating in parallel. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for six representatives of the top military and political leadership of the Russian Federation. A multi-level system of accountability is being formed − both national and international.