Occupation means that a country, or part of it, has been seized by the armed forces of another state. During occupation, the territory is under the control of the enemy, whose representatives seek to establish themselves as the official authority — attempting to gain the support and trust of the local population while keeping it uninformed.

Occupation is usually accompanied by intensive propaganda, incitement to betrayal and violence against fellow citizens, widespread repression of civilians, and an increase in crime.

Ukraine is steadfastly defending its land, no matter how formidable the opponent may seem, and is fighting back against the occupiers along the entire front line. Even if the state temporarily loses control over part of its territory, Ukrainian citizens continue to carry out organized resistance in those areas.

Prepare to be self-sufficient for an extended period in case of disruptions to essential services or reduced access to goods. If possible, stock up on water, food, and other necessities.

Below is a list of recommendations to help you maintain a reasonable level of safety and be prepared for potential threats or provocations.

Even if your city or village is in the occupied territory, every citizen can contribute to the resistance – both as a part of the underground partisan forces, and as an auxiliary component. Simple, and most importantly, safe actions, multiplied by thousands of citizens who carry them out, turn into a powerful weapon and a tangible obstacle to the work of the occupiers.

The Special Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have developed a practical guide on how to resist the occupiers, which can be downloaded from the link.

What to do if you are stopped by occupying forces?

1. Stay calm, do not argue, and do not make sudden movements. If asked to show the contents of your pockets or bag, slowly present your belongings. Keep your hands visible at all times.
2. Do not voluntarily enter premises where occupying forces are stationed, and try not to be left alone with them.
3. During any interaction with occupying forces, try to have witnesses nearby — they may observe that you are being detained and can inform your relatives if the situation deteriorates.
4. If you anticipate an encounter with occupying forces, inform someone you trust in advance via a call or SMS.

How not to raise suspicion?

To reduce the risk of detention, do not carry items that contain any data related to occupying forces, individuals collaborating with them, enterprises, or infrastructure facilities (roads, railway stations, bridges) — this may be interpreted as intelligence gathering. Do not carry any campaign materials, pro-Ukrainian literature, or instructions.

What phone content does not raise suspicion?

1. If it contains: photographs of everyday life, leisure, neutral conversations with friends.
2. A completely empty phone looks suspicious, as though you have something to hide.
3. Save important contacts under fictional but realistic names; delete unnecessary ones.
4. Do not publish information on social media that may be disliked by occupying forces.Delete from browser history any information about visiting Ukrainian resources.
5. Dangerous information that should not be stored on your phone and must be deleted immediately:

• correspondence with representatives of the Defense Forces of Ukraine;
• contacts that may raise additional questions;
• photos or videos of occupying forces’ equipment or personnel, or of restricted or
• sensitive facilities;
• Ukrainian symbols.

6. If you cooperate with the Defense Forces of Ukraine, it is best to have a separate phone for this purpose and use it to transmit information.
7. Clear your comment history that indicates your pro-Ukrainian position. You can view all the comments you previously posted on YouTube here.
   To delete them, you first need to go to the video where you left the comment.

Ukraine and international humanitarian organizations will help them cope in various ways.

Staying connected in occupied territories is often not just a matter of safety, but of survival. Here is how to ensure access to mobile communication, internet, and television.

Mobile Communication and Phones

1. If Ukrainian mobile service has not completely disappeared but your operator’s network is unavailable, try connecting to other Ukrainian mobile operators using national roaming. This service is provided by all Ukrainian operators. Read how to connect here.
2. If possible, avoid using Russian SIM cards. If you must purchase one, try to obtain it without presenting a passport, so as not to share your personal data with the occupying forces.
3. Russian security services have access to Russian mobile operator networks, so communication via Russian mobile networks requires maximum caution. When on a call, speak only about neutral, everyday topics and avoid anything that could endanger you or your loved ones — do not discuss the locations or movements of occupying troops, occupation authorities, and so on. It is better to minimize phone calls altogether and use messengers with open-source code and end-to-end encryption.
4. Do not store sensitive information on your phone. Delete all content from the device that could put you at risk if detained by occupying forces: correspondence, photos, videos, downloaded files. You can do this manually (do not forget to empty the trash) or use apps that permanently delete files.

Another option is to reset your phone to factory settings — this will delete all data and files from the device with no possibility of recovery. To do this:

If you have Android: go to Settings > select General Management > tap Reset > tap Factory Data Reset (menu names may vary depending on your phone model).

If you have iOS: go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.

Keep in mind that a completely empty phone may also raise suspicion among occupying forces.

1. Review which apps on your phone or subscriptions in messengers and social media may raise suspicion, and remove them.
2. Always use your phone’s built-in locking features (password, pattern, fingerprint, etc.) to make unauthorized access more difficult if the phone is lost.
3. Disable location services.
4. If possible, keep an old working phone that you can hand over if demanded by occupying forces.

Internet

1. If possible, use a VPN service (especially if your internet provider is connected to a Russian network). VPN services help avoid tracking, access restricted resources, and visit blocked websites. Occupiers currently block many such services, so you may need to find one that still works. Also keep in mind that having a VPN app on your device may raise suspicion.
2. If you have a Ukrainian internet provider, communicate via Wi-Fi whenever possible and make calls through messengers. Read how to configure them securely here.
3. Use strong passwords for all accounts (read how to do this here) and enable two-factor authentication.
4. Do not store on computers or laptops — and delete from memory — any information that could put you at risk if detained: correspondence, photos, videos, downloaded files. After deleting files, remember to empty the trash.
5. Do not connect to unknown open Wi-Fi networks or devices sharing internet access.
6. If you use social media, remove all personal information from your profile settings (phone number, date of birth, place of residence, workplace, etc.). Do not post content that could provoke a negative reaction from occupying forces. Where possible, restrict access to your profile to people you trust.

Important! Some of these recommendations may not apply depending on the conditions and situation in occupied areas. Always take the operational environment into account and prioritize your personal safety.

Sending information about the enemy to the military via Telegram bots may raise suspicion among occupying forces when they check your phone — for example, conversations with bots such as eVorog (Ministry of Digital Transformation), the Main Intelligence bot, or the Center of National Resistance bot. After using these tools, it is advisable to cover your tracks. How can you do this?

1. 1. If you sent photos or videos to a bot, delete them from your phone (including the trash).
   2. Mute notifications for all these bots. To do this, press and hold the chat with the bot and tap Mute. You will still see messages from the bot when you open Telegram, but they will arrive silently.

• After using a bot, delete it from your chats.

iOS: press and hold the chat, select Delete → Clear Chat History. The chat will be emptied but remain visible. Then tap Edit in the top left corner, select the chat, and tap Delete in the bottom right corner.

Android: press and hold the chat → tap ⋮ in the top right corner → Clear history. The chat will become empty but remain visible. Then press and hold the chat again and tap the trash icon at the top → confirm Delete chat.

Do not block the bot. During checks, occupying forces may review your list of blocked bots or channels and find it there. To check whether your blocked list contains anything suspicious, go to Telegram Settings → Privacy and Security → Blocked Users, select the bot, and tap Restart — it will reappear in your chat list. To remove it, press and hold the chat, select Delete → Clear Chat History, then tap Edit, select the chat, and tap Delete.

Note that even these steps will not disable the bot permanently — it may still send you notifications. However, the risk of it being found in your blocked list is significantly higher than the risk of receiving a message during a search. For example, the eVorog bot only responds when a user initiates interaction and does not send unsolicited messages.

1. Clear the cache. To clear cache in Telegram, go to Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Usage → Clear Entire Cache. You can also set up automatic deletion of media in personal chats. Cache exists in every app and can also be cleared manually in your device settings.
2. Remove any mention of the chatbot from the search bar and “Recent” section in Telegram. When you tap the search bar, a list of all channels and bots you have accessed appears. To remove a specific bot or channel, press and hold it and select Remove from Recent. To clear the entire list, tap Clear on the right side above the first chat.

Television

Ukrainian TV channels can be found on an open satellite using a satellite receiver or a TV set with a built-in receiver. Since the beginning of the war, Ukrainian television has been decoded on satellite.

Currently, most Ukrainian channels are available on Astra 4A (4.8°E) (mainly at 11766 H, 12130 V and 12437 V) and Amos 3 (4.0°W) (main frequencies 11140 H, 11175 H).

Internet (mobile and stationary)

If your Internet provider is connected to the Russian network, always use VPN services on your phone and computer. They help you avoid surveillance and bypass restrictions imposed by the occupiers. Many of these services are blocked by Russia, so you should look for VPN services that are not yet blocked and avoid using Russian apps.

Using a VPN service, you can watch Ukrainian television and read Ukrainian media online. You can watch Ukrainian TV on Youtube, Kyivstar TV, Megogo, Omega TV and many other platforms, as well as in the Diia app.

For official statements and important information, be sure to check the websites (official social media pages that have a verification mark — a blue tick) of Ukrainian government agencies. However, you should be careful not to come across a fake website created by the enemy.

Internet radio

Search for Ukrainian radio broadcasting on the radioplayer.ua platform, as well as on the website or in the Suspilne Radio app:

app for iOS
app for Android

Radio

Residents living close to the frontline have a chance to catch Ukrainian radio on regular receivers. Turn on the radio in your car, smartphone, or find a battery-powered radio and search for ” Ukrainske Radio”, “Promin”, or “Kultura” on the FM band. The frequencies for your region can be found on the “Suspilne” website.

Commercial radio stations, such as “Hit FM” and “Melody”, also broadcast Ukrainian programs. Look for frequencies in the FM band for your region on the stations’ websites.

Russian propaganda works in a complex way. To resist it, it is important to know the propaganda techniques used by Russians. Then you can understand when propaganda is working against you when you perceive information.  Its main technique is shameless and aggressive accusation of “everyone and everything” so that residents of the occupied territories cannot distinguish right from wrong.

The main techniques:

An information-psychological special operation, or IPSO, is distinguished from a news story by the coordinated unfolding of a certain scenario in the information field, consisting of a cascade of news, statements, events, and comments by so-called experts. These are campaigns with regular repetition of theses. IPSO can last for a month or more. To achieve the goal, these operations have their own dynamics and repeatability. The enemy creates manipulative information puzzles, hoping that a person will put them together and draw the conclusions necessary for the enemy.

One recent example of Russian IPSO is the sharp increase in the number of hostile informational materials in the infospace aimed at disrupting mobilization. These are various kinds of “advice” on how to avoid mobilization, materials with significant exaggeration of losses of our troops, negative materials about the mobilization itself, the work of the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers, warnings about lack of or insufficient training, etc.

How do you know if a source is fake/propagandist?

A number of Telegram channels with a large number of subscribers claiming to be Ukrainian actually work for the aggressor. You can tell that a source is fake by the following signs:

The occupiers often create fake pages of Ukrainian officials and government agencies to spread false information.

What distinguishes them from the real ones:

• Date of creation. As a rule, fake channels have been created recently or renamed.
• They don’t have the blue mark on social media that most official government channels have.
• The names of such pages may contain mistakes and Russianisms.

Russians also often create fake screenshots of messages allegedly from official channels, which are distributed in chats, groups, or anonymous channels. For example, questionable channels can use this principle to publish fake messages about evacuation.

How to prevent this? 

It is not always possible to understand that a source or information you see is fake. So, before trusting the information, we advise you to find the official website (with the gov.ua domain) of the authority or official, or their Telegram and Facebook pages and make sure that this information is there.

A few rules to avoid being deceived by a fake or propagandistic source of information:

1. Check your subscriptions by reading the list of propagandistic or pro-Russian Telegram channels compiled by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security.
2. Read not only the headlines, but also check the source of the information, whether official sources write about it, and whether the channel doesn’t distort the information.
3. Pay attention to whether the source of the information is not an unknown “dump site”.
4. Check what the Telegram channel shared at the beginning of the full-scale invasion: whether or not it published demoralizing posts about “everything is lost” and statements by representatives of the Russian regime.
5. Consider whether the information is presented in an emotional, aggressive manner. Words like “shock,” “brutality,” etc. that are used too often may indicate that you are being manipulated.
6. Often, such channels publish fake or archival photos of completely different events than they describe in the photo description. Special programs will help you check the origin of the photo: Google Search by Images, TinEye. And Fotoforensics or Duplichecker will help you view pixel changes. This will help you find out if the photo has been edited.
7. Don’t be overconfident. People who think they can easily distinguish fakes are more likely to be led and spread falsehoods than those who have doubts.

Which of the sources available in the occupied territories can be trusted? 

The occupiers block access to Ukrainian online publications, government websites, social networks, TV channels, and mute radio stations. However, access to Ukrainian resources in messengers can still be maintained.

In Viber, official channels are marked with a blue bird. Some of them are available in the “Useful” tab in the mobile application. For example:

President of Ukraine
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security
Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council
Minister Mykhailo Fedorov 

If there is a threat of your smartphone falling into the wrong hands, follow these instructions to safely read news on Viber:

• if there is a danger, don’t subscribe to channels, look for them in the search box in the application or in the “Useful” tab to read;
• If necessary, clear your search history as follows: when you go to the search bar next to the “Recent” section, click “Clear”.

Most official channels on Telegram are also marked blue:

President of Ukraine
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Vice Prime Minister – Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine
Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
StratCom of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Defence Intelligence of Ukraine
Security Service of Ukraine
National Police of Ukraine
State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security

You can find the truthful news about the situation in the country here:

UA:Pershyi TV channel
UA: Radio Promin
UA: Ukrainske Radio.

The “Yedynyi Novyny” TV marathon can be found on an open satellite. The signal is received by any satellite receiver, TVs with a built-in satellite receiver.

Reception parameters:

• Satellite: Hotbird 13;
• frequency: 11,219 MHz;
• polarization: H (horizontal);
• symbol rate: 29 900;
• error correction: FEC 3/5.

However, if the occupiers block the signal, you can listen to “Yedynyi Novyny” via the Internet radio radioplayer.ua, provided you have the appropriate application installed.  Or check the “Diia” app, “Services” section – “Diia TV”.

We recommend keeping valuable information that is not safe to store in your phone’s memory on external media or in the cloud.

Remove from the chats discussions on all topics that may provoke the occupiers: discussions of political issues, military operations, condemnation of Putin’s and Russia’s policies. Don’t save photos of military equipment, destruction, screenshots from the news, etc.

Delete all information from your phone that may seem suspicious to the occupiers:

• any patriotic information
• memes about the enemy;
• photos of the Ukrainian military, their equipment, positions, military facilities;
• photos of the occupiers, their equipment, positions, recorded facts of their crimes;
• backup copies of your smartphone, if you have created them;

Uninstall applications that can provoke the occupiers: for example, ” Ye PPO” or the Signal messenger, because the occupiers often look for it in phones. If you cannot permanently uninstall Signal and communicate with the defense forces through it, always have a clear explanation for why you installed it (it works better in poor connection, etc.)

Don’t keep contacts with military ranks or positions (“Serhiy Major”, “Vasyl Sergeant”, etc.), as well as other pseudonyms (“Johnny”, “Tony”, etc.). It is better to call them by their first and last name, which can be fictitious but realistic.

Also, clear your browser history, bookmarks, and messenger chats. But at the same time, leave something neutral, for example, a website with a weather forecast, movie recommendations, neutral correspondence with your wife and relatives.

The ideal option is to have a second smartphone that you carry with you and give to the occupiers during possible searches. However, if you use a modern smartphone, let the backup phone be roughly the same as your main one.

The State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, the National Resistance Center and the Rakuten Viber team participated in the development of the recommendations.

Who organizes the evacuation?

Regional military-civilian administrations together with specialists of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, police, SES and local authorities.

How is the population informed about the evacuation?

Through all possible channels – radio, television, mobile communications, social media, messengers, mobile groups with loudspeakers. You should be informed of the evacuation plan, information about gathering points, routes, and contacts of evacuation headquarters.  If you are in doubt, for example, about the reliability of what you hear over the loudspeaker, be sure to check it with information from other sources.

Evacuation announcements are published by:

• Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine (website, Facebook, Telegram, Twitter),
• Vice Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk (Facebook, Telegram)
• Heads of regional administrations and heads of communities. Find the official telegram channel of the head of your administration here.

If you don’t have any access to sources of information about the evacuation, call the:

• The hotline of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 0 800 507-028
• 101 or 102
• Free round-the-clock hotline of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights — 0 800 501-720

• Be sure to install a VPN — this will allow you to access reliable information even if the occupiers block it.

We recommend: ExpressVPN, Surf Shark, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost VPN, NordVPN, Proton VPN, Clear VPN. For example, Avast SecureLine VPN can be connected to up to 5 devices.

Some browsers, such as Opera, have a built-in VPN function. How to find it: Opera: Settings – Basic – VPN – enable VPN.

ClearVPN Premium is available free of charge for Ukrainian citizens after verification via Diia.Signature.

• Use only mobile internet or secure Wi-Fi. Never use open Wi-Fi or networks that require authorization for online banking or sharing confidential information. Turn off Wi-Fi when not in use.
• Disable automatic mobile network selection on your smartphone and select the required network manually.
• If possible, install apps that check your phone for spyware or malicious files (for iPhone — iVerify; for Android — Root Checker App). Install antivirus software (not of Russian origin) on your computers. How to do this — see the section on Protection against malware.
• Configure your messengers for enhanced security before use (see settings here). The most secure messengers are Signal and Threema.
• Use different email addresses for registering important services (for example, online banking).
• Regularly check which devices are logged into your accounts in the settings of messengers, social networks, and other services. Remove any you no longer use.
• Lock your device immediately after use. End sessions and log out of accounts on devices you no longer use.
• Do not open emails from unknown senders. A suspicious message, even from someone you know, is a reason to call them and verify whether they actually sent it — the account may have been compromised.
• Get SIM cards from different mobile operators in case one of the cellular networks becomes unavailable.
• Rename contacts involved in resistance activities, assigning them different names.
• Delete anything that could endanger you or the resistance movement you support.
• Limit your personal information online — avoid unnecessary location sharing, and do not post your home address or information about your absence from home

Russia systematically conducts so-called “referendums” and “elections” in the Ukrainian territories it has occupied. These processes have nothing to do with democracy and constitute a gross violation of international law. The occupiers’ goal is to create an illusion of “legitimacy” for their authority and to show the world an alleged voluntary integration of Ukrainian territories into the Russian Federation.

The safest and most effective step for people living under occupation is to ignore these events.

Why participation makes no sense

1. These are neither free nor competitive processes

There are no real elections or referendums. All candidates, questions, and results are approved by the Kremlin. So-called “municipal filters” and other mechanisms ensure that only pre-approved figures can participate.

2. The key metric for occupiers is turnout

They are not interested in genuine support — they need numbers for reports. That is why “voting” is stretched over several days, with mobile ballot boxes, door-to-door canvassing, and online voting.

3. Collection of personal data is a tool of pressure

At polling stations and during canvassing rounds, they often record phone numbers, addresses, and places of work or study. This is not only a violation of rights but also a tool for further control and repression, especially for those in public-sector jobs. Even if you spoil your ballot or vote “against all,” your presence will count toward their statistics. Ballots can be replaced, but your personal data remains on record.

4. Participation may be used against you

The occupiers’ logic is simple: if you showed up, you may be seen as trying to influence the outcome — perhaps by voting “against all” or for a nominal opposition candidate. This may label you as “unreliable,” and such people may later be targeted for “preventive measures” ranging from interrogations to dismissal from work.

5. This is always a propaganda tool, not an expression of will

No form of protest voting (spoiled ballot, “against all,” etc.) has any real effect. The results are predetermined, and a spoiled ballot will never be shown publicly. The only action that actually reduces the propaganda effect is non-participation.

The best strategy to avoid participating in fake referendums or elections is to leave the temporarily occupied territory if possible. If leaving is not possible, avoid participation carefully, without exposing yourself to violence or the risk of being placed on “blacklists.”

How to safely ignore fake voting in temporarily occupied territories

• Do not go to polling stations.
• Avoid crowded places during “voting” days (markets, transport hubs, public spaces), as these are often used to collect “votes.”
• Minimize the risk of encountering mobile voting groups at home: change your location if possible, stay inside, and avoid showing signs of presence.
• Do not engage in open confrontation. If avoiding coercion is difficult, you may use neutral excuses such as: “I have already voted,” “I am unwell,” or “my religious beliefs do not permit it.”
• Do not assist occupiers in organizing pseudo-referendums or fake elections: do not agree to work in commissions, do not campaign, and do not provide logistical or material support. Such actions constitute a serious offense and may result in criminal liability (up to 15 years of imprisonment).

Important to remember

• Forcing residents of occupied territories to participate in “elections” is prohibited under Article 45 of the Hague Regulations of 1907.
• Participation itself is not a criminal offense, but assisting in organizing such processes is a crime.
• Ignoring pseudo-elections and pseudo-referendums is the correct and safest strategy, if circumstances allow.
• If there is a real threat to your life or health, prioritize your safety above all else.

Only you fully understand your situation and can assess what is dangerous for you. Avoiding participation is the right choice, but if it is impossible due to safety risks, prioritize your personal security.

Ukraine consistently pursues a policy of de-occupation, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to liberate Ukrainian territory. The occupiers’ authority is temporary.

Information on the movements and location of enemy troops – equipment and people – should be collected carefully to avoid putting yourself in danger. 

1. Don’t ask the occupiers direct questions about their troops, and don’t be aggressive during conversations. 
2. Take videos and photos using some kind of cover or hiding place to avoid attracting unnecessary attention. In advance, think of a legend to explain what you were doing at that location.
3. As soon as you send a photo or video to the defence forces, delete it from your phone’s memory. Also, delete all correspondence at once. 
4. Try not to keep notes, but rather memorise the information. If you need to write it down, think of a way to encrypt it, for example, in the form of a shopping list or a list of medicines.

Where to send information for the defence forces:

Before writing something to a bot, check it using a special website https://dovidka.info/botchecker/. This way, you won’t come across Russian counterfeits that have identical spellings but may have different characters. Here are some of the useful chatbots.

Important! For authorisation, you need to confirm your identity in the Diia app so that the service is not used by the occupiers.

@sprotyv_official — here you can report on collaborators in the occupied territory, crimes committed by Russians and their other actions

@stop_russian_war_bot — to report on the enemy’s movements, combat positions of the occupiers, and their location in the rear

@dvb_np_bot — Telegram-bot of the National Police, where you can report supporters of the “Russian world”

@evorog_bot — with the help of this chatbot, you can report the movements of Russian military and equipment

Ukrainians in temporarily occupied territories who wish to leave due to threats to their life or health can do so by traveling through Georgia, Azerbaijan, or Kazakhstan. Below is an explanation of the required documents and entry rules for each country.

Georgia

Entry is possible from any country with a document that, even indirectly, confirms Ukrainian citizenship. This may include an international passport (even if expired), an internal Ukrainian passport, or a birth certificate.

After entry, contact the Agency for Internally Displaced Persons. They will provide temporary accommodation (for up to 10 days) and financial assistance (300 GEL per family plus an additional 45 GEL per person). With an internal passport, you may stay in the country for up to 6 months; with an international passport — up to 1 year.

From Georgia, you can travel by air to Turkey, Germany, Austria, or Cyprus, provided you have a valid biometric international passport.

By land, you can travel via Turkey towards Bulgaria or Greece, but only with a biometric international passport. If your passport is non-biometric, you must have a visa for your destination country.

What to do if you do not have the required documents or they are expired?

Contact the Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia (Tbilisi, 76-g Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue) to obtain new documents or renew existing ones.

From January 1, 2026, a valid insurance policy is required to enter Georgia. If you do not have one, obtain insurance before crossing the border.

Azerbaijan

Entry requires a valid international passport (biometric or non-biometric).

Please note that you cannot stay in Azerbaijan for more than 90 days. If you plan a longer stay, contact the country’s Migration Service.

Departure from Azerbaijan is only possible with a valid international passport or a certificate of return to Ukraine.

What to do if you do not have the required documents or they are expired?

Contact the Embassy of Ukraine in Azerbaijan (Baku, 49 Y. Vezirova (Chamanzaminli) Street) to obtain new documents.

Kazakhstan

Entry requires a valid biometric or non-biometric international passport.

If you do not have one, you may submit an application for refugee status at the border. For this, you will need two photos (3.5 × 4.5 cm) and translations of any available documents — a birth certificate or expired Ukrainian passports (translations can be obtained at any translation bureau along your route). After submitting the application, you will be issued a certificate of a person seeking protection, which will allow you to cross the border. You must then contact the Embassy of Ukraine in Kazakhstan (Astana, Yesil district, Karaotkel microdistrict, 12 Zhilyoi Street).

You may stay in Kazakhstan for up to 90 days. If you apply for refugee status, this extends to up to 1 year.

You can leave Kazakhstan for Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan by air or land, but only with a valid international passport (biometric or non-biometric, depending on the requirements of the destination country) or a Certificate of Return to Ukraine. If you do not have such documents, contact the Embassy of Ukraine in Kazakhstan.