Stuck Between Borders: Ukrainians Trapped at Russia–Georgia Checkpoint Spark Hunger Strike

How Russia’s Deportation Tactics Left Ukrainians Stranded — and Hunger Striking — for a Way Home

Ukrainians in the basement of the checkpoint “Upper Lars”. | Photo Credit: novayagazeta.eu Подробнее

Imagine turning up at a border crossing after being deported, only to find yourself in limbo, no country willing to take you, no way to go forward or back. That’s exactly what’s been happening to dozens of Ukrainians at the Dariali checkpoint between Russia and Georgia, and Kyiv’s Foreign Ministry is racing the clock to get them home.

What’s Going On?

Since mid-June 2025, Russia has ramped up deportations of Ukrainian citizens — not straight back to Ukraine, mind you, but into Georgia’s buffer zone at Dariali. Instead of being sent to Kyiv’s border posts, these deportees find themselves holed up in makeshift holding areas, often without proper IDs or basic amenities.

By early August, about 96 Ukrainians were stranded there. Most are people who’d served criminal sentences — either back in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories or in Russian courts — and then got shipped off again. Georgia, wary of becoming Russia’s dumping ground, has only let them transit if Moldova first agrees to take them. And Moldova, understandably cautious, briefly paused transit for this group, pushing more folks into that no-man’s-land.

[embed]Ukrainians Deported From Russia Trapped In Harsh Conditions At Georgia Checkpoint At the Georgian-Russian border, many Ukrainians deported by Russian authorities are stuck in harsh conditions.www.rferl.org

Kyiv’s Response

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Minister Andrii Sybiha, has publicly scolded Russia for the stunt, calling it a “deliberate attempt to create a humanitarian crisis.” Sybiha made it clear: “Send our people directly back to Ukraine,” he said, no side trips through Tbilisi or Chisinau needed.

Meanwhile, the MFA has mobilized its embassies in Tbilisi and Chisinau, the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration. They’ve arranged safe transport, emergency shelter, and coordinated with Georgian and Moldovan authorities to reopen transit routes. Between late June and now, 44 Ukrainians have finally made it out of Dariali, though dozens more still wait.

Photo Source: Russia holds dozens of deported Ukrainians in basement without food or water — media Photo Credit: ASTRA

Hunger Strike: Desperation Meets Determination

On August 5, five deportees kicked off an indefinite hunger strike, demanding Georgia let them cross into Georgian territory — and onward to Ukraine — without further delay. News of the strike spread fast, prompting Ukrainian consular staff to hustle to Dariali, meet with the strikers, and press Georgian officials for immediate, unhindered access.

The hunger strikers aren’t just making headlines, they’re the human face of a geopolitical chess match. They’ve lost faith that paperwork alone will save them; now they’re betting their own bodies will.

Photo Source: Russia holds dozens of deported Ukrainians in basement without food or water — media Photo Credit: ASTRA

Why It Matters

This isn’t just a bureaucratic snafu. At a time when Ukraine should be seated firmly at any peace table — negotiating its future after three-plus years of war — its citizens are being bounced around by Russia’s machinations. It’s a stark reminder that, for many Ukrainians, the struggle extends beyond the front lines.

For Georgia and Moldova, it’s a delicate diplomatic dance: upholding humanitarian norms without becoming a paw in Russia’s game. And for Kyiv, every day those Ukrainians remain stranded is a breach of basic rights and a political embarrassment.

Photo Source: Russia holds dozens of deported Ukrainians in basement without food or water — media Photo Credit: ASTRA

What’s Next?

The clock’s ticking. Georgia has hinted it might expand Dariali’s holding area to give the deportees more space and, presumably, more basic supplies. Moldova has signaled willingness to reopen transit corridors, provided all the paperwork’s in order. And Ukraine’s MFA promises ongoing, high-level talks with both governments to clear the backlog once and for all.

In the meantime, those stuck at Dariali can only hope their hunger strike accelerates the process. They’re not just demanding passage; they’re demanding the dignity of being returned to their homeland without more geopolitical ping-pong.

Bottom Line: When diplomacy stalls, people pay the price. Ukraine’s trapped citizens at the Russia–Georgia border are a glaring example, caught in a tug of war between governments, and forced to strike out in the most primal way they can. Here’s hoping reason (and a bit of international pressure) gets them home soon.

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