Ukrainians are returning from temporarily occupied territories through one of the checkpoints in Volyn.

Ukrainians are returning from occupied territories

Every day, one and a half dozen Ukrainians return from temporarily occupied territories and Crimea through one of the checkpoints in Volyn. This information was provided by volunteer Sergey, who helps people leave the occupation.

People, usually women with children, brought by Sergey, cover thousands of kilometers through Russia and Belarus. Most of them have no prospects in the occupied territories, where there is no future, medicine, or education. Many return with illnesses or disabilities.

One example is 16-year-old Daniil, who arrived from Kherson region, dreaming of a Ukrainian or European education. He traveled a long way through Russia and Belarus, stopping in various cities.

Another example is Tatyana from Mykolaiv, who covered a thousand kilometers to meet her 88-year-old mother, who returned from the occupied territory. The relocation of the mother took them three days through other countries.

Returning Ukrainians first cross the Belarusian-Ukrainian border and then head to transit centers in Kovel, where they are met by volunteers.

The checkpoint in Volyn is only accessible on foot, and border service officers check the documents of citizens returning to the territory of Ukraine.

From January 1, 2025, Russians have deprived Ukrainians in temporarily occupied territories, who have not received a Russian passport, of their rights. It is also known that the occupiers plan to deport residents of the Zaporizhzhia region, who have not obtained a Russian passport, as foreigners.

The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that starting from January 1, 2025, foreign citizens are allowed to stay on the territory of the Russian Federation without a visa for no more than 90 days during the calendar year.