Evacuating Russian civilians from areas not experiencing active fighting, such as the town of Suzha, could be illegal and might be considered deportation under international law.
This concern was raised by Roman Martynovskyi, a human rights defender and co-founder of the Regional Center for Human Rights, during an interview with Ukrainian Pravda.
Martynovskyi explained that while Ukraine can legally evacuate civilians from active conflict zones, doing so from more peaceful areas like Suzha could be problematic.
"Taking citizens from Suzha, where it is relatively calm now, is illegal and can be considered deportation. But from more dangerous settlements, it is quite possible," he stated.
He also pointed out that once the fighting ends, Ukraine would be obligated to return evacuees to their homes. If this does not happen quickly, Ukraine could face accusations of delaying their return, which might be seen as deportation by international courts.
"A logical question arises: why should we evacuate Russians to the territory of Ukraine, and not to the border settlements of the Russian Federation, where there are no battles?" Martynovskyi asked. He added that it might be easier for Ukraine to house Russians within its borders than in Russian border areas.
Martynovskyi emphasized the importance of providing proper living conditions for evacuees, including food, shelter, medical care, and safety. He also warned that Russia might use the evacuation of its citizens to Ukraine for its own purposes.
He stressed that any evacuation must be voluntary, in line with international humanitarian law. He suggested that getting written consent from evacuees would be crucial, as it could serve as important evidence in court.
Background
As of August 20, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have taken control of more than 1,260 square kilometers of territory and 93 settlements in Russia’s Kursk region.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has stated that Russian civilians in these areas are protected under international humanitarian law, which Ukraine is committed to following.
The Ukrainian military plans to carry out humanitarian operations, open evacuation corridors, and allow international humanitarian organizations to monitor the situation.
