Russia-Ukraine International Armed Conflict: Helping civilians cross frontlines and borders

As a result of these safe passage operations, to date, more than 500 vulnerable people have been assisted across borders and around frontlines in both directions. Since the beginning of 2025 alone, around 140 people have had safe passage to Russia or Ukraine.

As a result of fighting in the Kursk region since the summer of 2024, many people were evacuated to Sumy in Ukraine. Taking into account the wishes  of people, we have facilitated their journey back to Russia through multiple operations via Belarus following negotiation and agreement between relevant authorities. To date, several dozen have returned. These repatriations require extensive coordination between the parties, ICRC teams in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, as well as with our partners from the Russian Red Cross and the Ukrainian Red Cross Society.

In 2022, the ICRC also facilitated and accompanied the evacuation of several thousand civilians of all ages and abilities from active hostilities in Mariupol and Sumy. These complex and life-saving operations required an agreement and close coordination between the parties to provide the necessary security guarantees for both ICRC staff and the civilians to cross frontlines or areas close to them.