Iryna Vereshchuk: Forced deportees to russian federation should get in touch as soon as possible - everyone will get help

Deputy Prime Minister - Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk told in her interview with one of TV channels about the current situation regarding the forced deportation of Ukrainian citizens to the territory of russia and the struggle of the authorities for the return of these people.

She noted that the response of the Ukrainian side to the ICRC's attempt to open a

representative office in russia-based Rostov-on-Don was clearly negative: "We have been cooperating with the Red Cross for a long time and we know that its representatives do not really influence the situation. Russia uses them. President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer visited Kyiv. The Ukrainian Government informed him of its position on the organization of humanitarian corridors. He later went to the russian capital - and everyone sees the result."

As for the mentioned representative office in Rostov-on-Don, it is not yet a fact that it will actually appear. After all, russia will still think about whether it needs it. In any case, the image of the ICRC in the eyes of the international community is no longer attractive," says the Minister for the Reintegration of the Temporary Occupied Territories.

Currently, Ukraine has information about almost 40,000 of our citizens forcibly deported from Ukrainian territory to russia, among which there are many children. Work is underway to find out their data.

"I recommend all deported people to get in touch and give their contact details to the Ukrainian side. So that we understand where they are and be able to prepare urgent requests through the UN and other international bodies for their return. If passports are confiscated, everything should be done to ensure that the person has his or her own documents. We will restore them in the Diia when the person sends some news. We are currently working on this mechanism," Iryna Vereshchuk shared her recommendation.

As for the abducted Ukrainian officials, activists, volunteers and journalists, the official noted that they had been included in the register and Ukraine had asked the ICRC to determine the status of these people, as they were captives illegally.

"These are illegally held hostages. Therefore, russia must give them to us without any exchanges. This issue is currently being resolved. We are also talking about russian civilian drivers: dozens of them are now in Uzhgorod, Chernivtsi and other areas. As well as crew members of russian ships. That is there exists a big problem and we are working on solution of it", summed up the Deputy Prime Minister.