Braving Borders: The Grueling Journey of Ukrainians to See Family in Russian-Occupied Territories

Title: The Journey of Ukrainians to Russian-Occupied Territories

Anna, a 25-year-old Ukrainian, travels to see her family in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. Since Russia’s invasion, she has lived in Europe, leaving her parents and younger brother behind. Anna made two complicated trips, traveling from Poland to Belarus, flying to Moscow, then taking a night train and driving into eastern Ukraine.

In Moscow, she faced intense questioning before continuing her trip. “It is not for the faint-hearted,” she said. Since a checkpoint opened at Sheremetyevo airport, Ukrainians must pass security checks and interrogations. Many are denied entry and sent back.

Anna explained the psychological stress of traveling. Despite this, thousands make the journey to visit family or check on property after 32 months of war. At Warsaw’s bus station, Belarusian drivers report that several buses to Minsk carry Ukrainian passengers heading to Moscow.

Traveling through the checkpoint, Anna faced inquiries such as, “Do you support the special military operation?” She answered “no,” stating her desire for peace. After a tense wait, she was allowed through.

Since the checkpoint opened, Russian media claims 83,000 Ukrainians passed. However, many face rejection, and social media is filled with reports of people being turned away. The process often feels arbitrary, influenced by the attitudes of individual interrogators.

Another Ukrainian, parallel to Anna’s journey, described her experience as a “lottery,” dependent on the Russian official’s mood. She faces pressure to accept a Russian passport to ensure access to her mother.

Lyudmila, a 72-year-old, also decided to visit her son in occupied Donetsk after two years of living alone through the war. She traveled 24 hours by bus to reach Warsaw before continuing to Moscow. She fears the check process but prefers it to solitude.

Some Ukrainians view returning to occupied areas as dangerous. Svetlana, who fled at the war’s start, could not understand why her fellow countrymen risk such trips. Yet, she empathized with their desire for home, saying, “Home is home.”

These stories reflect the struggles and emotional toll of family connections amidst war.