The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is actively responding to the crisis situation with Ukrainians deported from the Russian Federation and stranded on the border with Georgia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has currently launched a set of measures aimed at resolving the acute problem of Ukrainian citizens who found themselves in difficult conditions on the Georgian-Russian border. This situation with recently deported Ukrainians, who after serving sentences in Russian penitentiaries were returned to Russia, and then arrested and forced to remain in a state of uncertainty near the Georgian checkpoint "Verkhniy Lars - Daryaly", has caused concern both in Kyiv and at the international level. According to official information from sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukrainian diplomatic representatives in Georgia have already carried out the first stage of cooperation with the Georgian side. In particular, a consular officer of the Ukrainian Embassy visited the Georgian checkpoint to meet with the leadership of the border service, and humanitarian aid was separately transferred to Ukrainians who urgently need it. As noted in the MFA commentary, the diplomatic mission now continues to work to find ways to resolve this difficult situation. Moreover, the department reported that, thanks to the coordinated work of the Ukrainian and Georgian services, as well as international organizations, it has already been possible to implement the first stage of the evacuation of Ukrainian citizens. Thus, on June 21, three Ukrainians were transferred to Moldova under the controlled transit mechanism, and nine more - on June 25. Previously, another flight was planned for June 27 to evacuate 14 Ukrainians from this group. The MFA emphasizes: "The Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia is in constant contact with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and international organizations in order to provide our compatriots with the necessary level of humanitarian and medical assistance and create appropriate conditions for their stay at the border." This issue is currently under special control of the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The background to the situation is that human rights organizations and the media in Georgia have repeatedly raised the issue of Ukrainian fugitive prisoners who were deported from the Russian Federation and, after serving their sentences, experienced difficulties returning home. For example, this week the Russian journalistic initiative "Mediazona" published a detailed material stating that more than 50 Ukrainians are in a long-term blockade at the "Verkhniy Lars - Daryaly" checkpoint, some of whom have not left this border crossing point for months, deprived of the opportunity to return to Ukraine in time or receive the necessary assistance. Thus, the situation with Ukrainians on the Georgian-Russian border remains complex and requires a systematic and coordinated response at the state level. The agency calls on all involved and international partners to actively cooperate in order to quickly resolve this humanitarian crisis and return Ukrainian citizens to their homes in safe conditions.