On July 19, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of deporting Ukrainian citizens across the southern border to Georgia and leaving them stranded in transitional areas without valid documents and hundreds of kilometers away from home.
Andrii Sybiha said Russia is stepping up the deportation of Ukrainians, mostly former prisoners, instead of sending them back to the border between Russia and Ukraine.
According to him, this action is a way to "weaponize the deportation of Ukrainian citizens". In a statement posted on platform X, Sybiha said that since June, Russia has significantly increased the number of Ukrainian citizens - mostly those who have been sentenced - brought to the border area with Georgia.
Sybiha stressed that dozens of Ukrainians are currently stranded in the transitional area, many of whom have no legal documents to travel. Up to now, 43 citizens have been brought from Georgia to Ukraine via Moldova, but many others are in difficult conditions in the border area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously said he has discussed the issue with Sybiha. According to Mr. Zelensky, the deported people are Ukrainian citizens who have been detained in prisons and reform houses located in Russian-controlled territory. He said that Ukrainian diplomats are trying to arrange the return journey for the above citizens.
Moscow has not yet responded to the allegations. Since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began in February 2022, Russia has repeatedly denied targeting or mistreating civilians.
