The pattern of travel by Russian citizens to European countries shifted noticeably downward over the year, reflecting a sharp drop in road trips. RBC reported this change, drawing on data from the border service of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
During the July through September period, Russians entered Schengen area states 378.8 thousand times by land. In contrast, the same stretch a year earlier saw a much higher level of access, with 684.4 thousand journeys recorded in the third quarter of 2022, almost twice as high.
Experts point to the policy change that took effect last September, when several EU countries restricted entry for vehicles bearing Russian license plates. That measure has clearly tempered the pace of cross-border car travel.
In the most recent quarter, Finland drew the largest share of car travelers, exceeding 200 thousand visits. However, this figure shows a decline of 53 percent from the year before. Estonia also saw a drop of about half, while Lithuania and Latvia each experienced declines around one third.
Conversely, some destinations within the Schengen zone recorded growth in road visits, notably Poland and Norway, with increases of approximately 35 percent and 23 percent respectively.
Earlier, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed an order to close the Ivangorod automobile cargo and passenger checkpoint on the Russia-Estonia border until February 1, 2024. This administrative move aligns with broader adjustments in border management that influence cross-border traffic.
Additionally, discussions at the European Commission have highlighted the broader impact of sanctions and asset freezes on Russian sovereign assets within the EU, a topic that continues to shape policy and travel dynamics in the region.