Ukraine has announced that Russian men between the ages of 16-60 would be denied entry to the country due to increasing tension stemming from Moscow’s seizure of Ukrainian ships.
This is just one more escalation since Kiev declared martial law in response to the Kremlin taking 3 ships and the 24 crewmen on board.
“As of today, entry is restricted for foreigners — in the first instance for male citizens of the Russian Federation age 16 to 60,” the head of the border service Petro Tsyhykal said at a meeting with President Petro Poroshenko that was broadcast live.
Proshenko amended that the ban would not restrict “humanitarian cases”.
Moscow offered heavy criticism of the move but announced it would not reciprocate against incoming Ukrainians.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova panned the decision as part of Ukrainian leaders “ill-conceived, wild direction.”
The regular transit point of the two countries in Belarus has already suspended as many as 144 Russians.
As tension between the countries continues to rise, so will the consequences.
