65 Ukrainian citizens repatriated from Russian-Georgian border — Sybiha

Additionally, on Aug. 21–22, a large group of Ukrainians was returned from Georgia via Moldova.

“We extend special thanks to the official representatives of the Georgian and Moldovan governments for helping organize the transit route and resolve logistical challenges,” Sybiha wrote on social media.

In previous months, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry had arranged the return of 44 citizens. This brings the total number of people repatriated from the Dariali crossing to 109. The ministry is continuing efforts to bring home the remaining citizens who wish to return to Ukraine.

The humanitarian crisis at the Russian-Georgian border emerged in the second half of June, when the aggressor state began sharply increasing the number of Ukrainians it deported — a move Sybiha said points to a deliberate Russian operation. Kyiv publicly called on Moscow to send Ukrainian citizens directly to Ukraine’s border instead of routing them to Georgia, which refused entry on “security grounds.”

On Aug. 6, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry reported that 96 Ukrainians remained in the Georgian-controlled zone of the Dariali crossing. Some had declared hunger strikes, demanding to meet with a Ukrainian consul and to be allowed to leave Georgian territory.

On Aug. 8, the ministry announced that a representative from Ukraine’s embassy in Georgia had arrived at the Dariali checkpoint to meet with the stranded citizens, who subsequently ended their hunger strike.