Ukrainians: leaving Russia and occupied territories

• Helping to Leave volunteers help people leave occupied territories, or Russia where they were taken against their will, for free: bot @helpingtoleave_bot, hotline +380 93 177 64 58. A call to a Ukrainian number from a Russian SIM card stays in the operator's records.
• Exit checks can be harsh: human rights groups advise removing photos and chats linked to the army or Ukrainian symbols from your phone beforehand and not carrying extra devices.
• For Ukrainians staying in Russia, the Civic Assistance Committee helps with documents, refugee status and temporary asylum.
• Russians who want to help Ukrainian prisoners of war or detainees: the prison service sees letters and transfers. Any financial help linked to Ukraine, including help to prisoners of war, can be treated as high treason (art. 275 CC, up to life imprisonment). Talk to First Department before any transfer. Sign letters with your own name and write only about everyday things. Don't send money to people on the 'terrorist' list.
• Crimea: the Crimean Human Rights Group and the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre track political prisoners (links in the Political prisoners section).

current as of 25 September 2026. More: Helping to Leave; First Department: I want to help Ukrainian POWs (foreign agent)