The key facts
- From January to September 2026, 18,788 Ukrainian citizens entered Russia — 6,564 fewer than in the same period of 2025
- 17,921 people indicated a private purpose for their trip; 547 — business, 130 — study, 91 — work, 69 — tourism
- 18,587 people arrived by plane, 160 by car, and 41 on foot
The flow of Ukrainians into Russia has declined
From January to September 2026, 18,788 Ukrainian citizens entered Russia — 6,564 fewer than in the same period of 2025. The data was reported by TASS, as cited by Life.ru.
Purposes and methods of entry
Almost all arrivals — 17,921 people — indicated private visits as the purpose of their trip. 547 people stated a business purpose, 130 — study, and 91 — work. 69 Ukrainian citizens arrived as tourists, another 28 crossed the border in transit, and two came as service personnel. Air transport remained the main means of entry: 18,587 people traveled by plane, 160 arrived by car, and 41 on foot.
Context on the Ukrainian side
Against the backdrop of the declining number of arrivals, Life.ru recalls a proposal previously voiced in Ukraine: an AFU officer proposed banning citizens aged 15 and older from leaving the country, in order to stop the outflow of young people and schoolchildren. In his view, the current border-crossing rules pose risks to the country's future, and they could be addressed with a new law. This is the opinion of an individual serviceman, not an adopted decision; the publication does not report any changes to border rules.
