65 citizens who were forcibly taken to border with Georgia by Russia return to Ukraine

The group was brought back to Ukraine via Moldova on August 21-22, including 10 women and 8 seriously ill individuals. Sybiha emphasized that these citizens were in a humanitarian crisis at Dariali due to Russia’s actions.

“The terrorist state once again violates international and humanitarian law. Ukrainian citizens—some of whom served sentences, others considered missing—were brought by Russians to the buffer zone at the Georgia border checkpoint without documents, means of subsistence, adequate food, or medical care. They were essentially abandoned,” Klymenko said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with Ukraine’s embassies in Georgia and Moldova, relevant Ukrainian agencies, and Georgian and Moldovan counterparts, continues efforts to repatriate remaining citizens who wish to return to Ukraine.

Situation at the border

For months, Ukrainian citizens deported from Russia after imprisonment have faced challenges at the Russia-Georgia border. Georgia denies them entry, citing security concerns due to missing documents or criminal records for serious crimes. As a result, these Ukrainians are held in a basement at the Dariali-Verkhny Lars crossing between Georgia and Russia.

According to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, since the start of the full-scale war, Russia has illegally transferred prisoners from occupied territories. Upon release, these individuals are given certificates that are not valid for border crossing.

The Ukrainian consulate in Tbilisi issues notes confirming readiness to provide return certificates, but the decision to allow entry rests with Georgia.

Ukraine is prepared to receive its citizens directly, bypassing Georgia and Moldova, but Russia ignores this request, the Foreign Ministry says.

To date, 109 people have been repatriated from the Russia-Georgia border checkpoint.