After finished second in qualifying group stage with
Russia U-21 at the
2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, Saenko received first senior call up against
Croatia on 6 September 2006 and as unused bench. He made his debut one month later against
Estonia on 11 October 2006 as last minutes substitution. He was called up to Russia's
UEFA Euro 2008 squad and was a second-half substitute in both their second match against
Greece in Salzburg and third match against
Sweden in
Innsbruck, but started the quarter-final against the
Netherlands in
Basel and the semi-final against
Spain in Vienna. He won his 13th and final cap in October 2008. ==Career statistics==