CNN reached some Ukrainians through a group chat run by Russian volunteers. Many are reluctant to share their opinions, but some gave a glimpse of life in Russia's far east and how Ukrainians are adjusting.
During the intense fighting in Mariupol, many Ukrainians fled to Russia and were encouraged by Russian authorities to travel 4,000 miles by train to Nakhodka, a coastal town near North Korea. As there was no reliable evacuation route to Ukrainian-held territory, this was the only option for many. However, Ukraine considers these refugees to have been forcibly deported. With the ongoing war in Ukraine, they have an uncertain future and don't know if they will be able to return home or be welcomed when they do. Some expressed pro-Russian views, others refused to discuss the war, and a few even criticized Ukraine. However, it's unclear how freely people could speak as no one directly criticized Moscow.
According to the UN, over 2.8 million Ukrainians sought refuge in Russia in the past year, with some transiting through to other European countries. Those who could afford it made it back to Ukraine.
According to Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director of Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab, the mere presence of Ukrainians in Russia benefits the Kremlin by providing much-needed manpower, and also helps with their propaganda by positioning them as voluntarily seeking Russian citizenship. The Russian government has been attempting to attract people to the far east through various programs, and fleeing Ukrainians are being accommodated with cash payments, housing assistance, and potential citizenship.
A refugee told CNN that her Ukrainian passport was replaced with a Russian one by the Russian authorities, which is a violation of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She must live in Russia for three years under the resettlement terms or repay any state benefits received. Actually, she is free to travel – but she won't return to Ukraine as she is afraid that those who went to Russia are considered criminals by the Ukrainian authorities, and she doesn't want to take the risk.
However, according to Raymond, Ukrainian people who have signed on for the years-long program are in basically a degree of indentured servitude. “Being in a contract, so to speak, for three years puts them in a very vulnerable position.” It’s critical to recall that their core rights under international law mean “they have a right to return, and they have a right to return safely,” regardless of any agreement, he said.
“Kyiv must make it crystal clear that Ukrainians citizens who ended up in Russia can come home, otherwise, many likely won’t. And that only serves Russia’s interests,” the article says.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Reintegration directed CNN to the Prosecutor General's office, which says those who passed through Russia can return through a third country and a Ukrainian consulate will issue them with documents. However, it's unclear if those who remain in Russia long-term can return without issues. The law considers those who deny occupation, aid the Russian military, or support Russian actions as collaborators and criminally liable. But the problem remains: “war after war, the same pattern can be seen – those with the least money have the fewest options” – affluent Ukrainians can flee through Europe, while the less affluent are vulnerable to exploitation.