Ukraine imposes harsh entrance restrictions on adult Russian males

Photo:ReutersRussian men aged 16 to 60 entering Ukraine without their families will only be allowed in if they have close relatives or an invitation, according to Ukrainian officials. Previously, all Russians could travel to Ukraine with just their internal IDs, rt.com reports.

“The restrictions concern physically fit men, who can influence the political situation in the country,” a Ukrainian border agency official told RIA news agency.

"We are imposing these controls at all border posts."

Russian national carrier Aeroflot published the new restrictions - issued by the Ukrainian border service for all forms of transport - on their website. One set concerns travelers from mainland Russia, and another even stricter set of limitations for those from Crimea, which seceded from Ukraine last month.

Mainland male adult Russians will have to present documents confirming that their relatives live in Ukraine, or have recently died there. This may be substituted with a personal notarized invitation from an individual or an organization, or special permission from the Ukrainian border service.

Those traveling from the mainland with women and children will remain unaffected.

Men crossing the border from the Crimean peninsula will have to prove that they are either traveling to the funeral of a close relative, or to show tickets and hotel vouchers for the duration of their stay. Women between the ages of 20 and 35 will be subjected to unspecified “filtering and verification checks.”