In wars are hundreds of terrible paradoxes. A few months ago we had one that was given on the Russian side revealing a cruel and murky equation that encourages military participation: There are Russian soldiers that “are worth” more dead than alive in its origin regions. On the Ukrainian sidewalk there are also circumstances as incomprehensible as that a citizen’s personal phone is his cross to escape the war.
The importance of phones to flee. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, thousands of Ukrainians have tried to escape the occupied territories, facing an extremely dangerous and complex process. At this point the figure of people like Stefan Vorontsovwho fled from the occupation of Nova Kajovka in 2022 and directs the humanity organizationwhich has helped more than 6,000 people escape from the south and east of Ukraine through Russia, the only viable route due to the impossibility of crossing the front line.
However, the success of these evacuations depends largely on previous preparation, and a crucial factor, as explained, is The total cleaning of the mobile phones of the evacuees. The reason? That the Russian authorities meticulously inspect each device at the border control points, and do so looking for any indication of loyalty to Ukraine.
The escape process and the “legends.” I counted these days Kajovka that to cross the border to Russia, Ukrainians must have a credible story or “legend” that justify their trip. These false narratives are meticulously designed to avoid suspicions, presenting reasons such as medical visits in Russian hospitals or recreational trips to the Black Sea.
That said, Young people apparently face greater difficultiessince any trace of Pro-Ukrainian activity in its social networks can be a reason for detention. In this regard, Russian authorities thoroughly question the evacueesreviewing its devices, contacts, searches and social networks, looking for words in Ukrainian, images of the national flag or connections with the Ukrainian army.
The trick: clean the mobile. To increase your chances of success, Humanity advises evacuated to eliminate maps, photos of sensitive infrastructure and suspicious contacts. In addition, he suggests adding “Russian” elements in his digital profiles, such as following prorruse Telegram channels or subscribing to Russia favorable content on platforms such as YouTube.
In fact, The organization uses Telegram secret chats To discreetly coordinate every step of the evacuation, minimizing the risk of communication being intercepted.
Dangers at control points. The crossing points in Crimea and Rostov of the Don are controlled by the Russian forces, which subject those evacuated to those interviews that can last, according to the organization, up to six hours, with questions designed to cause emotional reactions and detect Ukrainian sympathies.
At this point and how they underline, An error in the narrative can result in prisondeportation to remote regions of Russia or forced disappearances, as has happened with several acquaintances of Vorontsov. Here, the elderly, children and sick people are more likely to cross successfully, although the situation has become more difficult over time, according to Vorontsov.
The passport. Since January 2024, Russia demands that all Ukrainians get a Russian passport In order to get out of the occupied territories, a measure that has further complicated evacuations and has increased pressure on young people to join the Russian armed forces. This new regulation represents an additional obstacle, since many are forced to choose between clandestine resistance or acceptance of Russian citizenship under coercion.
Logistics and financing. Humanity Organize transport with drivers with a license to bring those evacuated to safe points in Crimea or Rostov del Don. If the evacuees cannot arrive by their own means, the organization covers the expenses of taxis, accommodation and food.
In this regard, they compete with Russian conductors that charge inflated rates of up to $ 400 per person, while Humanity spends less than $ 50 per transfer. With everything and despite the economic difficulties, in 2024 they managed to evacuate 360 Ukrainians, including 106 children, as well as several domestic animals. By the way, The organization operates without profitdepending exclusively on donations to finance train tickets, bus and other logistics expenses.
Image | President of Ukraine