UPDATED: Foreign Journalists Banned From Entering Occupied Crimea and Donbas Under Martial Law
As a result of the introduction of martial law in some regions of Ukraine, foreign citizens, and foreign journalists in particular, have been banned from entering occupied Donbas and Russia—annexed Crimea, Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service’s press service told Hromadske.
Update: On December 1, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine clarified that foreign media, human rights and humanitarian groups will be allowed into occupied Crimea and Donbas if they have the correct documents and permits from the State Migration Service.
As a result of the introduction of martial law in some regions of Ukraine, foreign citizens, and foreign journalists in particular, have been banned from entering occupied Donbas and Russia-annexed Crimea, Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service’s press service told Hromadske.
The headquarters of the Joint Forces Operation previously stated that while martial law was in place, foreign citizens are banned from entering the occupied parts of the Donbas. The State Border Guard Service then further noted that these restrictions also apply to annexed Crimea.
READ MORE: Ukraine Bans Male Russian Citizens – What We Know
“During martial law, crossing the administrative border with Crimea is only possible with Ukrainian documents,” State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andriy Demchenko stated.
He explained that this applies to those who are heading for Crimea.
“Those who are already in Crimea legally may freely cross the administrative boundary [to return],” he stated.
Ukraine’s Deputy Information Policy Minister Emine Dzhaparova also confirmed this information with Hromadske.
“We understand that journalists are a separate category [among foreign citizens], in whose work we are interested. But we’re talking about 30 days, therefore we hope that our foreign colleagues understand and that this will not affect the coverage of Ukrainian issues,” Dzhaparova stated.
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