MOSCOW, 29 September. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on the procedure for entry and exit of Ukrainian citizens. The corresponding document has been published.

According to the decree, such people can cross the Russian border without a visa on the basis of an internal or foreign Ukrainian passport, a diplomatic or service passport, a seaman's passport or an air crew member's passport. This can also be done using a citizenship card to return to Ukraine (so you can only travel to this country). In the case of children, a birth certificate or passport of the legal guardian with the child's details will be required.

It is also possible to enter Russia using expired documents. Exceptionally, citizens of Ukraine who do not have valid documents may travel from Russia to neighbouring states via the land border on the basis of a copy of the conclusion on establishing the identity of the foreigner issued by the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Travel with expired documents is also allowed.

A child who is a citizen of Ukraine may leave Russia together with one of his/her legal guardians or with another adult who has notarized consent to do so.

About the visa regime

Since 1997, there has been an agreement between the governments of the Russian Federation and Ukraine on visa-free travel for citizens of both countries. As stated in the explanatory note to the draft decree, the agreement ceased to apply after 1 January 2023 on the initiative of the Ukrainian side.

However, the Russian authorities have decided to maintain visa-free access to the territory of the Russian Federation for Ukrainian citizens. The explanatory note also stressed that Moscow's adoption of mirror measures in the case of the visa regime will only "harm the maintenance of family ties between citizens of Russia and Ukraine."

(TASS/For)