Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls trip to Russia a 'one-way ticket'
In a Twitter post, the Consular Service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has called travel by Ukrainians to Russia a "one-way ticket".
"Travel by Ukrainians to Russia is often a one-way ticket. [This is] confirmed and documented. So is it worth risking your own freedom and causing suffering to your relatives? " the Consular Service’s post reads. The message was attached to a warning by the Security Service of Ukraine against travel to Russia.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that "Russian Special Services" detained a Ukrainian citizen, Oleh Nehoda, who took part in Ukrainian military operations in the Donbas, while he was in Moscow. The report notes that he was traveling to visit his relatives. "The Security Service of Ukraine once again emphasizes that the Russian FSB hunts our compatriots on Russian territory, and that trips to the aggressor country are extremely dangerous," wrote the SBU. The Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Hrytsak, called on citizens of Ukraine, especially those who have experience participating in anti-terrorist operations (ATO) conducted by the Ukrainian military in Donbas, "to refrain from trips to Russia and temporarily occupied territories."
Nehoda’s detention was reported on January 2. He was going to visit his sister in Saratov, and was detained on December 24-25 by unknown people in Moscow. The reasons for his detention and his whereabouts are currently unknown. Nehoda served in the ATO zone from 2016 to 2017.