Kathrine Frich
Russia is facing growing pressure to sustain its war effort, with authorities needing both soldiers for the front lines and workers to keep the economy running.
As losses mount and industries struggle, keeping people inside the country has become increasingly important for the Kremlin.
Now, new figures reveal just how many Russians are already unable to leave.
Millions affected
Nearly nine million Russians are currently barred from travelling abroad due to unpaid debts, according to data cited by Digi24 from the Federal Service for Enforcement of Laws.
At the beginning of 2026, authorities had 8.9 million active travel restrictions in place. This represents an increase of more than 40 percent compared to the previous year.
Why people are blocked
Under Russian law, citizens can be prevented from leaving if they owe more than 10,000 rubles in cases such as alimony or compensation, or more than 30,000 rubles for other debts.
The restriction remains in place until the debt is fully repaid.
Authorities often combine this measure with other enforcement actions, including freezing bank accounts and seizing assets.
Tougher rules
Changes introduced at the end of 2023 have made the system stricter.
Travel bans are now open-ended and remain in force until debts are cleared or enforcement proceedings are completed.
At the same time, more people have been paying off their debts. In 2025, authorities recovered significantly higher sums compared to the previous year.
Another barrier
Debt is not the only reason Russians may be unable to leave the country.
After the introduction of a digital military summons system, individuals who receive a notice are automatically banned from travelling abroad until they report in person.
Such cases have already been recorded in multiple regions, including Moscow and other major cities.
New proposal
Lawmakers are now considering introducing a new tax for those who want to travel abroad.
The proposal, supported by figures in Russia’s tourism sector, aims to encourage domestic travel and create a reserve fund to assist citizens in crisis situations abroad.
Despite these restrictions, Russians continue to travel abroad in large numbers.
According to border service data, more than 31.5 million trips were made in 2025. This is an increase of more than 15 percent compared to the previous year.
Sources: Digi24, RBC
