Russia

Think there is still direct flights from Serbia. But you’d still need a visa which I’d imagine the Russians have sanctioned for all EU citizens

Belgrade -Moscow, plenty of flights just Google for more info. I lived there for a while, was fine once you got used to life style, but now??? Nope ( and I have several invitations from friends ) No way!! Actually, I'd consider it incredibly stupid ( and even the friends who invited me agree) We have seen what happened on several occasion's to Visitors when Putin needed pawns for his shenanigans. Nope, I'll wait until the war is well and truly over, and than see how it goes.

I went to Moscow and St Petersburg in 2019 and had a fantastic time. There's zero chance I'd go there now.

Same as that. I went in 2018. I can't understand how someone would want to go now.

There's no particular negative attitude to the Irish there, at least, I never experienced it anyway, on the contrary I always met with a very positive attitude of friendship and good will. And an Irishman will have no problems getting a Russian girlfriend. I got a few marriage proposals while I was there, not that I was either tall or dark or handsome ( I'm not) but I have very good looking passport. The drinking though is on a different level completely, and I knew how to drink ( or at least I thought I did anyway...) Other than that, they are pretty much the same as the Irish, and love Irish Traditional Music. On the other hand, you have the Police, and they like the drinking are something else. You do not want to end up in a police station, believe me. I had that experience once, and I've no wish to repeat it again, ever. but keep out of their way as much as you can, and you will be fine. It's all about knowing and fitting into the system, and you will have great time. Moscow is a fantastic city, and you would never get tired of travelling around it. Even the Metro, is something else. Stalin believed that art belonged to everyone, so everything he stole in Germany, ended up in the metro station's. Travelling outside Moscow or St Petersburg shows a completely different Russia, its the complete opposite of the glamour and glitz you see in the city's. You can travel back in time to how Life was lived 100 years ago. There, the people can be mistrustful of strangers ( and who could blame them?), but that's it, when they get to know you, they are the finest too. Would I like to return there? Undoubtably, but while Putin is in charge? No Way, and even the friends who have invited me caution against coming now while the war situation exists. They do this not just for my protection, but for their own as well.

Agreed, don't go. Airports around Moscow are closed from time to time due to Ukrainian drones passing on the route to explode in the city centre. So far there were no civilian casualties, but it would be ironic if the OP becomes the first Irish citizen accidentally blown to bits there.

Why would you want to go to a place to spend your money to assist the Russian economy?

Their economy needs to crumble to dust and maybe then the average Russian might cop on to that sham Putin.

I've several invites to go back there, and I'd love to go. But not under the present circumstances, and I would not advise anyone else to go either, and the main reason for that is because I'd be afraid that after passport control, I'd be arrested, and held as a "card" for Putin to use as he wished. He's already done it with several trusting visitors, and gotten high value Russian terrorists released from US and UK prisons. Don't go! Don't even think about it! Aside from the ever present travel dangers, I'd be thinking about being out and about, and happening to meet a group or even one or two of Putin fanatics, especially if they overheard you speaking English.

Can a person with an IrishEU passport actually get into Russia? How do you travel there? I assume connect from Turkey or even Serbia or something now?

All that ash on the plateau of Gorgoroth is a maintenance nightmare for aircraft engines I've heard.. 😉