While the war in Ukraine continues, the population in the temporarily occupied territories faces the threat of being forcibly moved to Russia on a daily basis. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the number of citizens of our state evacuated against their own will already exceed 20,000. Moreover, most of them are children. Of course, it is difficult to guarantee safety from the invaders of an independent state. But there is a certain list of rules, following which you can protect yourself as much as possible and leave the enemy territory as soon as possible. We will talk about them further.

What will happen at the border crossing?

Activists with experience of forced evacuations to Russia tell us that Ukrainian citizens are thoroughly searched, fingerprinted, their devices are checked, and even interrogated upon entry. At this stage, there is a huge risk of criminal cases being instituted on fictitious grounds. Ukrainians are often accused of extremism and participation in terrorist groups. In order not to fall under suspicion and become another victim of torture by the enemy, it is worth preparing in advance.

Remove all "suspicious" information from your devices

By law, no one has the right to take away access to your personal belongings. But the occupiers do not comply with international legal norms, so it is better to do everything possible so that they let you into their territory as soon as possible. Remove all news channels, screenshots of military equipment, correspondence about political issues, and discussions of the war. To avoid unnecessary suspicion, leave a few more or less neutral channels, such as news about your city. Also, make sure your browser history doesn't look too clean.

If you get your devices confiscated, turn them off. Set two-factor authentication in all social networks. Don't enter any passwords as hidden cameras could be watching you.

How to behave during interrogation?

In addition to the usual checks, you may be sent to a filtration camp (the occupiers concentrate such camps on the territory of the so-called "people's republics"). In this case, you will be interrogated with almost 100% probability. The main task during it is to stay calm and have minimal contact with the enemy. Be aware of provocations: you may be deliberately told hurtful and humiliating things. Do not give them grounds for detention.

The best option is to refer to Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation: “No one must testify against himself, his spouse, close relations, whose circle is determined by law.”

Also, do not risk signing any documents without carefully studying their contents.

The main rule is to be guided by your own feelings. If you understand that you or your loved ones are in mortal danger, do not appeal to the law. Do whatever you have to do to save your life.

Registration details and exit from Russia

When crossing the Russian border, be sure to make a personal migration card. Important: you should not apply for refugee status or ask for asylum from the aggressor state, otherwise you will be forced to hand over your passport, which will make it impossible to leave the territory of the Russian Federation within 90 days.

If possible, avoid stamping or marking your passport. It is better not to even tell about the presence of Ukrainian documents.

Immediately after going through all the procedures, try to leave Russia. If you have a foreign passport, you should move toward the EU. The most convenient route: St. Petersburg - Ivangorod - Narva (checkpoint) - Tallinn (Estonian capital). In order to cross the Estonian border, you need to have a passport/birth certificate and a migration card. The rule of “pure” devices is also better to use.

If you do not have a foreign passport, the only option to leave is through the Belarusian border under the visa-free procedure. Use all available options!

You have rights

Remember that you have inalienable rights even during an evacuation. One of them is the notification of loved ones about your detention. Once you get a chance to contact your relatives, tell as many people as possible about your whereabouts.

In any situation, keep calm and act clearly according to the plan. It is worth thinking about it in advance.