Serbian officials have granted passports to numerous Russians with connections to the Kremlin since the onset of the large-scale conflict in Ukraine, as reported by the investigative news organization IStories on Wednesday, referencing government data.

From the beginning of 2022 until April 2025, a total of 204 Russians acquired Serbian citizenship, with many of them having ties to Russia’s defense sector and intelligence agencies, according to the outlet.

Among those who became citizens are 11 current and former leaders of sanctioned Russian defense companies and their relatives, including spouses and daughters. The companies mentioned include Radio-Electronic Technologies Concern (KRET), Elekon, the Kazan Optical and Mechanical Plant, and Almaz-Antey.

One individual, Viktor Shendrik, is said to have served in the prestigious Vympel unit of the FSB and was a chief bodyguard for President Vladimir Putin and wealthy associates Arkady and Boris Rotenberg. Others have affiliations with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov or with Umar Kremlev, president of the International Boxing Association, along with his associate, Alexei Rubezhnoy, head of the Presidential Security Service.

Nine individuals awarded passports have been identified as current or former executives at sanctioned banking institutions including VTB, Gazprombank, and Dom RF.

According to IStories, none of the newly naturalized citizens are listed under Western sanctions, allowing them to travel visa-free within the EU. Serbian passport holders can visit 29 countries in the Schengen Area, enabling passport-free movement across a significant part of Europe.

IStories also highlighted that over 30 Russians who obtained Serbian passports in 2024 were connected to Russian state bodies or large corporations.

Ilya Shumanov, the former head of Transparency International Russia, proposed that this large-scale passport issuance might be part of a covert agreement between Moscow and Belgrade, wherein Russia offers financial assistance to Serbian authorities.