What steps is the state taking and what should be noted by Ukrainians who are forcibly deported to Russia in order to return home

The Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk voiced an impressive number: from the zones of hostilities and the temporarily occupied territories in the direction of the russian federation on non-coordinated quasi-humanitarian corridors, the occupiers took out 40 thousand citizens. At the same time, the invaders are obstructing the evacuation of civilians into Ukrainian-controlled territory.

Is the Red Cross a dubious mediator?

The Ukrainian public authorities are constantly informing the world community about these illegal and uncoordinated russian “corridors”. The occupiers resort to far from humane methods of treatment with people. Thus, according to Iryna Vereshchuk, internally displaced persons pass through special filtration camps located near Donetsk and Luhansk. There they are checked for “reliability” or “unreliability”. They are forced to undress, seize documents, personal belongings, check the contents of the phone, etc. According to a similar scheme, they are operating in the temporarily occupied part of Kyiv region, forcibly taking Ukrainian citizens to Belarus.

At the same time, the position of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which is trying to mediate in all humanitarian processes, looks like an open flirtation with Moscow. Instead of facilitating the evacuation of Ukrainians to the unoccupied territories, the organization is essentially lobbying for their deportation to rostov-on-don. It is there that the ICRC intends to open its representative office after talks between its leader Peter Maurer and the Ukrainian and Russian sides.

At the same time, as Iryna Vereshchuk assured, Ukraine continues and will not stop fighting for each of its citizens and returning them home.

Rules of life for forcibly deported

The Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine addressed all citizens who were forcibly deported with recommendations on how to act.

If you turned out to be in russian federation

• Get in touch as soon as possible and provide your contact details to the Ukrainian side. This will make it possible to understand exactly where a person is and to urgently prepare requests through the UN and other international structures for the return of people.

Try to contact your friends, acquaintances.

• Try – in spite of everything – not to give your passport. Every effort should be made to keep the documents in person.

«We will restore them in «Diya» when a person makes himself known. We are currently working on this mechanism» – Iryna Vereshchuk explained.

Avoid passport manipulations: do not allow marks, seals, written data, etc.

Do not sign any documents.

Refuse (as much as possible) from traveling to IDP camps.

If you turned out to be in «DNR»

There are filtration camps – special places for checking the citizens of Ukraine. If you come to such a camp, follow these rules:

• Before checking, delete all “suspicious” information from your smartphone: discussion of political issues, hostilities, photos of military equipment and destruction. Exit chats where news are discussed and unsubscribe from channels. If you use multiple messengers, leave the least active in use. Install two-factor authentication on your phone and on all social networking applications.
• In case of interrogation, be as neutral as possible, do not provoke, do not discuss political views and do not enter into conversations.

From russian federation – abroad: is it possible?

How to leave Russia? There are no restrictions on travel for Ukrainian citizens from the point of the law. Once in the European Union, go to any country. Apply for temporary protection there. It allows you to get temporary housing, benefits and financial assistance. You can also not apply for this status, but immediately look for housing and work.

ATTENTION! Medical and legal assistance to citizens of Ukraine is provided free of charge. Your sim cards and bank cards in the European Union, unlike in russia, work.

Departure route from russia: practical tips

The first option is the most convenient: across the Estonian border, the Ivangorod-Narva checkpoint.

To do this, first get to St. Petersburg by train. From there – to Ivangorod (2 hours on the road).

From Narva to Tallinn – 2 hours. For citizens of Ukraine – free. Once in Estonia, ask for help with any questions on the free of charge number: 12-47 or +3726001247.

Option two: in Russia you can buy a ticket for the Ecolines bus to Riga (Latvia) or Vilnius (Lithuania).

Following these tips, your peace of mind and confidence will come in handy in a difficult situation.

The main thing is to always remember: Ukraine cares about each of its citizens and will protect and bring everyone home.