Ukrainian Refugees Sent to Russia
2022-07-25
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1Nearly 2 million Ukrainian refugees have been sent to Russia, both Ukrainian and Russian officials say.
2Ukraine calls the transportation of its people forced transfers to enemy soil, which is considered a war crime.
3Russia calls the actions humanitarian evacuations of war victims who already speak Russian and are thankful for a new home.
4The Associated Press (AP) investigated the stories of several people who were sent to Russia from Ukraine.
5 AP found many refugees are forced to go to Russia.
6The news agency said they faced human rights abuses and their documents were taken.
7Many were left confused or lost about where they are.
8The problems start with, what AP called, a poisoned choice: die in Ukraine or live in Russia.
9Those who leave go through a series of what are known as filtration points.
10There, treatment includes questioning and body searches.
11Officers pull people aside after which they might disappear.
12Refugees told AP of an old woman who died in the cold and an evacuee who was beaten so severely that her back was covered in bruises.
13Those who go through the filtrations are invited to live in Russia.
14They are often promised a payment of about $170 that they may or may not get.
15Sometimes their Ukrainian passports are taken away.
16The chance of Russian citizenship is offered instead.
17And sometimes, they are pressured to sign documents denouncing the Ukrainian government and military.
18Those with no money or contacts in Russia can only go where they are sent, eastward, even to the very coldest and farthest areas of Russia.
19Some told AP that they saw many trains arrive over the weeks of the war with more than 1,000 Ukrainians who were sent as far away as Khabarovsk and Vladivostok.
20Those cities are on the Pacific coast, a 10-day train trip from western Ukraine.
21The AP investigation also found signs of dissent within Russia to the government story that Ukrainians are being rescued from extremists.
22Almost all the refugees the AP spoke to praised Russians who quietly helped them.
23Russians helped them escape, get back documents, find shelter, get transportation, and exchange Ukrainian money, the hryvnia, for Russian money, the ruble.
24They even helped the refugees move their belongings.
25The AP said the transfer of hundreds of thousands of people from Ukraine is part of a plan, found in Russian government documents.
26An "emergency mass order" describes the "distribution" of 100,000 Ukrainians to some of the most distant and poorest areas of Russia.
27But the Ukrainians were not to be sent to the capital, Moscow.
28Ukrainians are technically free to leave Russia.
29But many stay because they have nowhere to go, no money, no documents, or no way to travel across a country double the size of the United States.
30Some fear if they return, Ukraine will punish them for going to the enemy.
31That fear is strengthened by Russian officials.
32Others speak Russian with family there and have ties that they feel are stronger even than their ties to Ukraine.
33One woman told AP that her husband was Russian and she felt more welcome in Russia.
34Oleksandra Matviichuk is head of the Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine.
35She said it is unclear why Russia is transferring Ukrainians.
36One goal might be to use the refugees in propaganda tools by pressuring them to speak out against Ukraine.
37Matviichuk also said the transfer of local civilians from occupied territories clears the way for Russians to replace them with loyalists.
38She said this was the case in Crimea.
39And Russia may want Russian-speaking Ukrainians to populate its farthest areas with poor economies.
40Ukrainian refugees in Russia sometimes lose their identities along with their homes.
41Some leave their Ukrainian documents behind.
42Others have their Ukrainian passports taken by Russian officials.
43They are offered Russian citizenship or can be considered refugees.
44Many end up in an unclear state without documents.
45Tatiana Moskalkova is a human rights activist in Russia.
46She said only 55,502 have received temporary asylum.
47The other Ukrainians have unclear legal standing in a country where they are often seen as the enemy.
48Along with giving up their official documents, Ukrainian refugees are sometimes pressured to sign papers.
49The papers say the Ukrainian government or military is responsible for the war.
50Tanya Lokshina is the writer of an upcoming Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on forced transfers of people.
51She said many evacuees do not realize they have the right to refuse to sign documents and the right to leave Russia.
52HRW and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties documented several cases where Ukrainians were pressured into signing papers.
53They include documents that accuse Ukraine's military of war crimes.
54Lokshina said, "When you are there and they have the power and you're basically in their hands, you don't know what's going to happen."
55She added, "So many people sign just because they are afraid."
56I'm Gregory Stachel.
57And I'm Jill Robbins.
1Nearly 2 million Ukrainian refugees have been sent to Russia, both Ukrainian and Russian officials say. 2Ukraine calls the transportation of its people forced transfers to enemy soil, which is considered a war crime. Russia calls the actions humanitarian evacuations of war victims who already speak Russian and are thankful for a new home. 3The Associated Press (AP) investigated the stories of several people who were sent to Russia from Ukraine. AP found many refugees are forced to go to Russia. The news agency said they faced human rights abuses and their documents were taken. Many were left confused or lost about where they are. 4The problems start with, what AP called, a poisoned choice: die in Ukraine or live in Russia. Those who leave go through a series of what are known as filtration points. There, treatment includes questioning and body searches. Officers pull people aside after which they might disappear. 5Refugees told AP of an old woman who died in the cold and an evacuee who was beaten so severely that her back was covered in bruises. 6Those who go through the filtrations are invited to live in Russia. They are often promised a payment of about $170 that they may or may not get. Sometimes their Ukrainian passports are taken away. The chance of Russian citizenship is offered instead. And sometimes, they are pressured to sign documents denouncing the Ukrainian government and military. 7Those with no money or contacts in Russia can only go where they are sent, eastward, even to the very coldest and farthest areas of Russia. Some told AP that they saw many trains arrive over the weeks of the war with more than 1,000 Ukrainians who were sent as far away as Khabarovsk and Vladivostok. Those cities are on the Pacific coast, a 10-day train trip from western Ukraine. 8The AP investigation also found signs of dissent within Russia to the government story that Ukrainians are being rescued from extremists. 9Almost all the refugees the AP spoke to praised Russians who quietly helped them. Russians helped them escape, get back documents, find shelter, get transportation, and exchange Ukrainian money, the hryvnia, for Russian money, the ruble. They even helped the refugees move their belongings. 10A purposeful plan 11The AP said the transfer of hundreds of thousands of people from Ukraine is part of a plan, found in Russian government documents. 12An "emergency mass order" describes the "distribution" of 100,000 Ukrainians to some of the most distant and poorest areas of Russia. But the Ukrainians were not to be sent to the capital, Moscow. 13Ukrainians are technically free to leave Russia. But many stay because they have nowhere to go, no money, no documents, or no way to travel across a country double the size of the United States. Some fear if they return, Ukraine will punish them for going to the enemy. That fear is strengthened by Russian officials. 14Others speak Russian with family there and have ties that they feel are stronger even than their ties to Ukraine. One woman told AP that her husband was Russian and she felt more welcome in Russia. 15Oleksandra Matviichuk is head of the Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine. She said it is unclear why Russia is transferring Ukrainians. One goal might be to use the refugees in propaganda tools by pressuring them to speak out against Ukraine. 16Matviichuk also said the transfer of local civilians from occupied territories clears the way for Russians to replace them with loyalists. She said this was the case in Crimea. And Russia may want Russian-speaking Ukrainians to populate its farthest areas with poor economies. 17Identities in question 18Ukrainian refugees in Russia sometimes lose their identities along with their homes. 19Some leave their Ukrainian documents behind. Others have their Ukrainian passports taken by Russian officials. They are offered Russian citizenship or can be considered refugees. Many end up in an unclear state without documents. 20Tatiana Moskalkova is a human rights activist in Russia. She said only 55,502 have received temporary asylum. The other Ukrainians have unclear legal standing in a country where they are often seen as the enemy. 21Along with giving up their official documents, Ukrainian refugees are sometimes pressured to sign papers. The papers say the Ukrainian government or military is responsible for the war. 22Tanya Lokshina is the writer of an upcoming Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on forced transfers of people. She said many evacuees do not realize they have the right to refuse to sign documents and the right to leave Russia. 23HRW and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties documented several cases where Ukrainians were pressured into signing papers. They include documents that accuse Ukraine's military of war crimes. 24Lokshina said, "When you are there and they have the power and you're basically in their hands, you don't know what's going to happen." She added, "So many people sign just because they are afraid." 25I'm Gregory Stachel. 26And I'm Jill Robbins. 27Lori Hinnant, Cara Anna, Vasilisa Stepanenko, and Sarah el Deeb reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 28_________________________________________________________________ 29Words in This Story 30transfer - v. to move (someone or something) from one place to another 31evacuate - v. to remove (someone) from a dangerous place 32nightmare - n. a very bad or frightening experience or situation 33confused - adj. unable to understand or think clearly 34filter - v. to pass (something, such as a gas or liquid) through a filter to remove something unwanted 35bruise - n. a dark and painful area on your skin that is caused by an injury 36dissent - n. public disagreement with an official opinion, decision, or set of beliefs 37distribution - n. the way that something is divided or spread out 38_____________________________________________________________ 39What do you think of the transfers of Ukrainians into Russia? 40We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 41Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.