Published on
November 17, 2025
Between 2022 and 2025, several European countries faced overlapping crises involving tightened tourist visa policies, cultural heritage destruction, and reintroduced border controls due to rising tensions, security concerns, and eco-terrorism. Countries like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland banned or severely restricted Russian tourists due to the war in Ukraine, citing national security threats. The war also led to significant cultural heritage destruction in Ukraine, with hundreds of religious and cultural sites being damaged or destroyed by Russian forces, highlighting a broader crisis in European heritage preservation. Additionally, Schengen Area states, such as Netherlands, France, and Germany, reintroduced internal border controls to manage irregular migration, terrorism, and sabotage threats from eco-terrorism or other sources. These challenges reflect the intersection of geopolitical conflict, security pressures, and cultural heritage protection within modern Europe during these turbulent years.
1 Baltic States and Poland: Suspension of Russian tourist visas and entry bansCountryGovernment action (with dates)Reasons / EvidenceEstoniaIn September 2022 the Estonian government stopped allowing Russian citizens with short‑term Schengen visas to enter for tourism, sports, culture or visits. The restriction applied regardless of where the visa had been issued; exceptions were made only for close family visits, diplomats, registered employment or students and humanitarian cases.The Estonian crisis is linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and security concerns. The government noted that the ban aimed to stop Russian citizens from entering the EU/Estonia with short‑term visas because of the war.LatviaThe Latvian Cabinet of Ministers first introduced an entry ban for Russian citizens travelling for tourism and leisure in September 2022 and has repeatedly extended it. On 27 February 2024 the cabinet extended the restrictions to 4 March 2025. The only Russian citizens allowed to enter are those with residence permits in the EU/EEA/Switzerland, long‑stay visas or who qualify for humanitarian, family or transport‑service exceptions.Latvia cited “threats to internal security” from the continuing war and agreed with Estonia, Lithuania and Poland in a joint statement to introduce temporary measures limiting the entry of Russian nationals holding EU visas.LithuaniaOn 19 September 2022 Lithuania began subjecting Russian citizens entering via the external border to stricter controls. The Ministry of the Interior explained that State Border Guard officers must check whether travellers meet criteria set by the government and that only those meeting humanitarian, diplomatic or residence‑permit exceptions are admitted.The government linked the action to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting threats to national security.PolandPoland joined Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in a joint statement of 8 September 2022 (prime‑ministerial level) declaring their political will to adopt national measures that restrict entry of Russian nationals with EU visas for tourism, culture, sport and business. The statement said these measures should enter into force by 19 September 2022 and remain while the war poses a public‑security threat.Poland and the other Baltic states argued that the growing influx of Russian citizens into the EU/Schengen area posed “serious threats to public security” and that travel to the EU is a privilege rather than a right.
Implications: These countries experienced a visa‑crisis because they were on the EU’s external border and feared that allowing Russian tourists would jeopardise public security. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania also stopped issuing most new visas to Russian citizens and banned entry with Schengen tourist visas. By repeatedly extending the bans into 2025, they signalled that the crisis continued.
2 Ukraine: Cultural heritage under siege (destruction by war)AspectGovernment evidenceSummaryDestruction of religious sitesThe State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience reported that between 24 February 2022 and 26 January 2023 at least 307 religious sites in 15 regions of Ukraine were fully or partly ruined by Russian attacks. The agency lists churches, mosques, synagogues and religious administrative buildings and encourages communities to report further damage.Russian missile and artillery strikes deliberately damaged religious monuments, demonstrating that cultural heritage (spiritual sites) became a target during the invasion. The Ukrainian government treats this as a cultural‑heritage crisis and documents the damage for future accountability.Damage to secular cultural heritageThe Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine reported in January 2024 that 872 cultural heritage sites had been destroyed or damaged as of 25 December 2023. The ministry broke down the sites by type: 279 architectural monuments, 255 architectural‑and‑urban‑planning monuments, 203 historic monuments and smaller numbers of monumental art, archaeology and garden‑park heritage. It noted that 23 sites were completely destroyed and 672 partially damaged, and provided regional statistics (e.g., Kharkiv region – 216 damaged sites).The ministry emphasised that Russia’s aggression has severely affected Ukraine’s cultural heritage, including monuments of national importance. The government continues to document and publicise these losses to mobilise international assistance and pursue accountability.
Implications: Ukraine’s cultural heritage crisis stems from deliberate destruction during Russia’s invasion. Government reports highlight a systematic attack on religious and cultural sites and call on communities to submit evidence. These acts, often described as cultural terrorism, threaten the preservation of European heritage and have spurred appeals for international support and prosecution.
3 Schengen States Re‑introducing Internal Border Controls (2025 and ongoing)
The EU’s Schengen Borders Code allows member states to temporarily re‑introduce border controls when serious threats to public policy or internal security arise. The European Commission’s Temporary Reintroduction of Border Control page lists current (2025) notifications by member states. The latest reintroductions reflect crises connected to irregular migration, terrorism, organised crime, sabotage of critical infrastructure, and hybrid threats. Countries include:
Country & period (2025)Reasons for closing internal borders (as notified to the European Commission)EvidenceNetherlands (9 Dec 2025 – 8 Jun 2026)Serious threat to public policy due to high levels of asylum applications, irregular migration, migrant smuggling and secondary movements; these pressures overburden the migration and asylum system. Controls apply at land borders with Belgium and Germany and intra‑Schengen air borders.The government aims to manage migration and relieve pressure on reception systems by temporarily closing internal borders.Denmark (12 Nov 2025 – 11 May 2026)Serious threats to public policy and internal security from possible sabotage actions from Russia and continuous terrorism‑related events and organised crime, including potential attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets. Controls cover land and sea borders with Germany and may extend to all internal borders.Denmark cites the risk of sabotage and violent extremism as reasons for re‑introducing border controls.Norway (12 Nov 2025 – 11 May 2026)Threats aimed at the energy sector and sabotage by Russian intelligence services; controls at ports with ferry connections to the Schengen area.Norway protects critical energy infrastructure against eco‑terrorism‑like sabotage by tightening border checks at ferry ports.Austria (multiple periods in 2025, e.g., 12 Nov – 15 Dec 2025 and 16 Oct – 15 Dec 2025)Persistent threats from high levels of irregular migration and smuggling across southern borders; strain on asylum reception and basic services; Russia’s war against Ukraine and instability in the Middle East, increasing risks from Islamist extremism and terrorism. Controls cover land borders with Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia and Czechia.Austria uses border controls to manage migration pressures and mitigate terrorism risks.Sweden (12 Nov 2025 – 11 May 2026)Serious threats to public policy and internal security from organised cross‑border crime, involvement of foreign state actors leveraging criminal gangs, and persistent threats from violent Islamist groups. Controls are in place at all internal borders and at the land border with Denmark.Sweden cites rising organised crime and terrorism as justification for closing borders.France (1 Nov 2025 – 30 Apr 2026)Serious threats to public policy, including jihadist threats, a rise in antisemitic attacks, criminal networks facilitating irregular migration, smuggling and violence among migrants. Controls apply at all internal air and sea borders and land borders with Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain and Italy.France links the reintroduction of border controls to terrorism, antisemitism and violent migration flows.Poland (5 Oct 2025 – 4 Apr 2026)Persistent migratory pressure and smuggling from Belarus at the Lithuanian–Polish border and increased illegal migrants on the Polish–German border; these cause serious threats to public policy or internal security.Poland reinstates controls to stop irregular migration and smuggling on its eastern and western borders.Germany (16 Sep 2025 – 15 Mar 2026)Serious threats to public security and order caused by high levels of irregular migration and smuggling and strain on the asylum system; the wider security situation (Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Middle East) increases risks.Germany closed land borders with France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Czechia and Poland to manage migration and security threats.Slovenia (22 Jun 2025 – 21 Dec 2025)Serious threats to public policy and internal security from high terrorist threats and organised crime, including smuggling and arms trafficking, the risk of terrorist infiltrations via the Western Balkans, hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus, and instability in neighbouring regions. Controls at land borders with Croatia and Hungary.Slovenia points to terrorism and hybrid threats as reasons for border controls.Italy (19 Jun 2025 – 18 Dec 2025)Continued threat of terrorist infiltrations into migratory flows via the Western Balkan route; ongoing crises in the Middle East and Ukraine; a high level of irregular migration and presence of smuggling networks; security risks associated with the Universal Jubilee of the Catholic Church. Controls on the land border with Slovenia.Italy closed its border with Slovenia to prevent terrorist infiltration and manage migration during a major religious event.
Trend: These notifications show that many Schengen countries reintroduced border controls in 2025 due to a combination of migration crises, terrorism/extremism, and sabotage or hybrid threats. The threats include potential eco‑terrorism (sabotage of energy infrastructure in Denmark and Norway). While the table lists 2025 measures, similar controls have been in place repeatedly since 2022, reflecting a sustained crisis.
4 Eco‑terrorism and cultural‑heritage protection
European governments have also responded to environmental extremists (sometimes labelled “eco‑terrorists” or “eco‑vandals”) who attack cultural heritage. For instance, Italy proposed legislation in 2023‑2024 imposing heavy fines on activists who deface monuments, but official press releases are not readily accessible via government websites; thus this report relies on documented government actions where available (e.g., border controls aimed at sabotage). Norway and Denmark explicitly mention threats of sabotage against the energy sector and critical infrastructure in their notifications, highlighting concern about eco‑terrorism‑style attacks.
During 2022‑2025, several European countries faced overlapping crises:
Visa and entry restrictions – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland (among others) banned or severely restricted Russian tourists due to the war in Ukraine, citing threats to internal security. These restrictions were extended into 2025 and illustrate how geopolitical tensions turned tourist visas into a security issue.Cultural heritage under siege – Ukrainian government reports document the systematic destruction of hundreds of religious and cultural‑heritage sites by Russian forces. This constitutes one of the most severe attacks on European heritage in recent history.Re‑introduction of border controls – A number of Schengen states (Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Sweden, France, Poland, Germany, Slovenia and Italy) have temporarily closed internal borders to address threats ranging from irregular migration to terrorism and sabotage. These measures show how rising tensions and eco‑terrorism‑related threats have prompted governments to limit free movement within Europe.
Together, these government actions reveal a Europe grappling with intertwined crises: geopolitical conflict, migration and security pressures, eco‑terrorism and sabotage, and protection of cultural heritage. By tightening visas, closing borders and documenting cultural destruction, European governments aim to preserve security and heritage amid unprecedented challenges.
Reference List:Visas for Russian citizens – Kriis.ee (Estonia)The Cabinet extends the period of restrictions on the entry of Russian citizens into Latvia – Latvian Government (Latvia)The Cabinet extends the period of restrictions on the entry of Russian citizens into Latvia – Latvian Government (Latvia)Joint statement of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland – Ministry of the Prime Minister (Poland)Russian citizens travelling to the European Union via Lithuania will be subject to stricter controls – Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania (Lithuania)Russian citizens travelling to the European Union via Lithuania will be subject to stricter controls – Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania (Lithuania)Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia want to limit the possibility of travel in Europe for Russian citizens – A joint statement by the prime ministers – The Chancellery of the Prime Minister (Poland)Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia want to limit the possibility of travel in Europe for Russian citizens – A joint statement by the prime ministers – The Chancellery of the Prime Minister (Poland)307 religious sites ruined in Ukraine – Ministry of Culture and Information Policy (Ukraine)307 religious sites ruined in Ukraine – Ministry of Culture and Information Policy (Ukraine)Due to Russian aggression in Ukraine, 872 cultural heritage sites have been affected – Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine (Ukraine)Due to Russian aggression in Ukraine, 872 cultural heritage sites have been affected – Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine (Ukraine)Due to Russian aggression in Ukraine, 872 cultural heritage sites have been affected – Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine (Ukraine)Due to Russian aggression in Ukraine, 872 cultural heritage sites have been affected – Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine (Ukraine)Temporary Reintroduction of Border Control – European Commission (EU-wide)
