Kyiv accuses Russia of leaving Ukrainians stranded at Georgian border
Andrii Sybiha said Russia was stepping up the expulsions of Ukrainians - many of them former prisoners - over the southern frontier, rather than sending them directly over its border with Ukraine.
That amounted to Russia "weaponizing the deportation of Ukrainian citizens," he added on X.
There was no immediate response from Moscow, which has denied accusations of mistreating or targeting civilians since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
"Since June, Russia has significantly increased the number of deported Ukrainian nationals, mostly former convicts, to the border with Georgia," Sybiha wrote.
"As a result, dozens of people, many of whom lack proper documentation, have been stuck in the transit zone."
Sybiha said 43 citizens, including former political prisoner Andrii Kolomiyets, have been transported from Georgia to Ukraine via Moldova, but more people remain in "difficult conditions" at the border.
Sybiha called on Russia to transport them to the Ukrainian border instead.
Earlier on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had discussed the matter with Sybiha.
"These are Ukrainians released by Russians from prisons and penal colonies in Russia-controlled territory," Zelenskiy said.
"Ukrainian diplomats are arranging the transit of these citizens of our state back to Ukraine."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
16 minutes ago
- The Independent
Russia kills 21 civilians in Ukraine as the Kremlin remains defiant over Trump threats
Russian glide bombs and missiles struck a Ukrainian prison and a medical facility overnight, killing at least 21 people, officials said Tuesday, as Russia kept up its bombardment of civilian areas despite U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to soon punish Russia with sanctions and tariffs unless it stops. A Russian airstrike on a prison in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region killed at least 17 inmates and wounded more than 80 others, officials said. In the Dnipro region, authorities reported at least four people were killed and eight injured. Trump said Monday he is giving Russian President Vladimir Putin 10 to 12 days to stop the killing in Ukraine after three years of war, moving up a 50-day deadline he had given the Russian leader two weeks ago. The move meant Trump wants peace efforts to make progress by Aug. 7-9. Trump has repeatedly rebuked Putin for talking about ending the war but continuing to bombard Ukrainian civilians. But the Kremlin hasn't changed its tactics. 'I'm disappointed in President Putin,' Trump said during a visit to Scotland. The Kremlin pushed back, however, with a top Putin lieutenant warned Trump against 'playing the ultimatum game with Russia.' 'Russia isn't Israel or even Iran,' former president Dmitry Medvedev, who is deputy head of the country's Security Council, wrote on social platform X. 'Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country,' Medvedev said. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor, the Kremlin has warned Kyiv's Western backers that their involvement could end up broadening the war to NATO countries. 'Kremlin officials continue to frame Russia as in direct geopolitical confrontation with the West in order to generate domestic support for the war in Ukraine and future Russian aggression against NATO,' the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said late Monday. The Ukrainian air force said Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles along with 37 Shahed-type strike drones and decoys at Ukraine overnight. They say 32 Shahed drones were intercepted or neutralized by Ukrainian air defenses. The Russian attack close to midnight Monday hit the Bilenkivska Correctional Facility with four guided aerial bombs, according to the State Criminal Executive Service of Ukraine. At least 42 inmates were hospitalized with serious injuries, while another 40 people, including one staff member, sustained various injuries. The strike destroyed the prison's dining hall, damaged administrative and quarantine buildings, but the perimeter fence held and no escapes were reported, authorities said. Ukrainian officials condemned the attack, saying that targeting civilian infrastructure, such as prisons, is a war crime under international conventions. In Dnipro, missiles hit the city of Kamianske, partially destroying a three-story building and damaging nearby medical facilities including a maternity hospital and a city hospital ward. Two people were killed and five were wounded, including a pregnant woman who is now in a serious condition, according to regional head Serhii Lysak. Further Russian attacks hit communities in Synelnykivskyi district with FPV drones and aerial bombs, killing at least one person and injuring two others. According to Lysak, Russian forces also targeted the community of Velykomykhailivska, killing a 75-year-old woman and injuring a 68-year-old man. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Russian attacks continue on Ukraine overnight hours after Trump put more pressure on Moscow
Update: Date: 2025-07-29T07:44:05.000Z Title: Morning opening: Russian attacks don't stop despite Trump's threat Content: More than 20 people were killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine overnight, just hours after US president Donald Trump sought to put more pressure on Moscow by shortening the deadline for reaching an agreement on a ceasefire to '10-12' days. At least 16 people were killed in an attack on a Ukrainian prison, with more than 35 injured. More people died in other attacks in different parts of the country, including on a hospital and a private home, authorities reported. Andriy Yermak, top aide to Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said: This is another war crime by the Russians, who will not stop if they are not stopped. He added: 'Putin's regime, which also issues threats against the United States through some of its mouthpieces, must face economic and military blows that strip it of the capacity to wage war.' President Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine's high hopes last night, saying that Trump's declaration was 'right on time, when a lot can change through strength for real peace.' Let's see if we get any further reaction to the overnight attacks. Elsewhere, we will be looking for more reactions from the EU and across the bloc to the EU-US trade deal signed at the weekend, the latest on German response to Gaza as chancellor Friedrich Merz meets with Jordanian King Abdullah II, and more news from across the continent. I will bring you all key updates from across Europe here. It's Tuesday, 29 July 2025, it's Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live. Good morning.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Russian strike on Ukrainian prison kills 17 people and injures more than 80
A Russian airstrike on a prison in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region has killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 80 others. Four guided aerial bombs hit the Bilenkivska Correctional Colony in the southeastern province, according to the State Criminal Executive Service of Ukraine. At least 42 inmates were taken to hospital with serious injuries and another 40 people, including one staff member, sustained other injuries. Please refresh the page for the latest version.
